Mass. man admits making threat against student that put Skidmore campus on lockdown

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

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A Massachusetts man admitted today in court to threatening a Skidmore College student.

Lance Leonard, 49, of Cuttyhunk, Mass., pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court to felony first-degree coercion. He had left threatening messages on the phone of the female student, who authorities said had just ended a relationship with him.

Authorities tracked down Leonard in New Jersey after the student saw the messages. Before he was caught, the college campus was placed on lockdown, with a heavy police presence to any attack.

The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office plans to seek jail time for Leonard as well as probation and intensive mental health treatment and an order of protection, District Attorney James A. Murphy III said.

“A plea to the highest charge possible was the only option we would consider due to the fear the defendant instilled in this young woman,” Murphy said in a statement.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 8.