Swatting Incident in Wisconsin Ends With Arrest in Texas

 Posted on April 08, 2025 in Criminal Defense

A 20-year-old Texas man has recently been identified as the suspect in multiple swatting incidents. The man was a suspect in a swatting incident at the Horace Mann Middle School in Wausau, WI, last December and is now facing multiple counts across several counties in Texas for similar swatting incidents.

The Wisconsin incident resulted in the school being evacuated. The young man was arrested three days after that incident in Granbury, Texas. Swatting is a criminal offense that appears to be increasing in frequency. It occurs when a prank call is made to deliberately trigger a large law enforcement response.

The callers usually indicate some type of threat to public safety. Making prank calls to law enforcement is rarely taken lightly, as these false calls take resources away from those who may actually need them. If you have been charged with swatting, it is important that you speak to an experienced Floresville, TX criminal defense attorney.

What is Swatting in Texas?

Swatting is making a false report about a criminal offense or an emergency with the goal of provoking a police response. As of 2019, there were an estimated 1,000 swatting incidents each year – a number that has almost certainly risen significantly in the past six years. This dangerous trend has become popular among online gamers and teenage pranksters.

Swatting callers seek to engage large numbers of law enforcement by claiming severe situations like a bomb threat, a hostage situation, or a murder. Swatting in Texas is detailed under Texas Penal Code Section 42.061 – Silent or Abusive Calls to 911, and Section 42.0601 – False Report to Induce Emergency Response.

Silent or abusive calls usually occur when an individual calls 911 or calls the police directly and says nothing, then hangs up. The person engaging in swatting must know that the report is false, that the report will cause an emergency response, and must be acting with reckless disregard to the fact that such a call could result in bodily injury or death to another person.   

What Are the Penalties for Swatting in Texas?

Swatting is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000. If the defendant has been convicted of swatting two prior times, the penalties increase to six months to two years in state jail. If a person is seriously injured or killed because of a swatting incident, it becomes a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

If a person is found guilty of silent or abusive calls to 911, he or she could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000. A judge may also order a defendant found guilty of this offense to make restitution or reimburse the cost of the emergency response.

Are There Defenses to Swatting?

While every defense will depend on specific charges and the situation surrounding the arrest, some of the most common defenses to swatting include:

• There was no intent on the part of the defendant to knowingly make a false report to law enforcement.
• The defendant was mistakenly identified as the person who made the false report.
• There is insufficient evidence to prove that the defendant made a false report to law enforcement.
• The defendant was coerced or made the swatting call under duress.
• The defendant has a mental illness or condition that affected his or her ability to understand the consequences of making a swatting call.  

Contact a Wilson County, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing swatting charges, you should take these charges very seriously by calling a Floresville, TX criminal defense attorney from BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys. Every partner in our firm is either a former criminal prosecutor or a judge, which affords our clients a more comprehensive defense. To schedule your free consultation, call 830-769-1010. Our attorneys speak Spanish.