Ryan ChartrandThe computer engineering freshman accused of sending threatening e-mails to Cal Poly students and faculty in October was sentenced Monday.
Francisco Diaz, 18, will serve 30 days in the San Luis Obispo County Jail, in addition to three years probation and 100 hours of community service. He originally faced up to 90 days in the county jail and up to three years and eight months of probation.
Diaz was charged with criminal threats, unlawful access to a computer, and fraud after he allegedly sent more than 50 threatening e-mails to faculty and staff from a display computer in El Corral Bookstore.
Diaz plead no contest to these charges in April – a plea bargain meaning he neither admits to nor disputes the charges.
The alleged e-mail, which was forwarded to the Mustang Daily from multiple anonymous sources, stated the sender was planning an attack on Cal Poly students and faculty similar to the shooting at Virginia Tech in April 2007.
Police originally arrested the owner of the e-mail account from which the e-mails were sent. The owner of the account was not involved in the crime and was soon released.
Police then arrested Diaz, who reportedly appeared on security camera images from the bookstore. Diaz posted his $50,000 bail the following day.
An online message sent to the Mustang Daily from one of Diaz’ friends said Diaz allegedly regretted sending the e-mails and that they were meant to be a Halloween prank.
“It was an unconscious prank that became the biggest mistake of my life, which I am now repenting for causing the unthinkable panic, which was not my intention,” Diaz allegedly wrote in the message.
Diaz will start his jail term on July 1.