This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

ROY, Utah (AP) - An 18-year-old Utah man arrested in 2012 in a plot to blow up his high school is out of juvenile detention and running for mayor of Roy, Utah.

Joshua Kyler Hoggan has filed his papers to challenge current mayor Joe Ritchie and councilman Willard Cragun in the race, The Standard-Examiner of Ogden reports.

Police said that Hoggan, then 16, and an older classmate at Roy High School spent months plotting an attack inspired by the 1999 Columbine shootings. Hoggan even visited with the Columbine principal about the shootings and security measures.

Their plan included a detailed plot, school blueprints and a plan to fly away after the bombing. Investigators never found a bomb, but conspiracy is an element of the possession charge.

I've made more than my fair share of mistakes. And I feel that being trusted with the mayorship would be the ultimate way for me to fully give back to my community. –Joshua Hoggan, Roy mayoral candidate

A classmate tipped authorities to the plot after receiving text messages from the juvenile, who bragged that he planned to steal a plane from a nearby airport. The boy had logged hundreds of hours on a flight simulator program to prepare.

Hoggan served six months in juvenile detention after he pleaded guilty in 2012 to possession of a weapon of mass destruction. His classmate, Dallin Morgan, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and was given a 105-day jail sentence.

In an email to the Standard-Examiner, Hoggan said he knows his past will be a factor in the race, but his time in detention helped clear his head. He considers himself successfully rehabilitated.

"I've made more than my fair share of mistakes," Hoggan said. "And I feel that being trusted with the mayorship would be the ultimate way for me to fully give back to my community."

Mayor Ritchie said the bomb plot was a major concern for him and others in the city when it happened. But, he said he would not address it as the mayor or as a candidate.

"It's all history now," Ritchie said.

City officials said Hoggan is legally able to run for office because he was not found guilty as an adult. City Manager Chris Davis said he hasn't spoken to Hoggan about his reasons for running but he's not surprised.

"We have all sorts of people run for different reasons," Davis said.

___

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

×

Related Stories