Teacher to accept plea deal

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

A Silverado High School teacher accused of making false bomb threats at the school will have to give up teaching children for three years under a plea agreement.

Defense attorney Bill Terry said Dylena Pierce waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday and announced that she intends to accept a deal made with prosecutors.

Pierce was charged with two counts of making bomb threats and two counts of turning in false fire alarms in November after police learned she was behind four threatening notes she claimed to have found within a seven-day period in October.

If District Judge Michael Cherry approves the plea agreement April 17, Pierce will plead guilty to two gross misdemeanors, be placed on probation for three years, continue receiving mental health treatment and give up teaching children while on probation, Terry said.

Pierce will plead guilty to conspiracy to issue a bomb threat and setting a false fire alarm, Terry said.

Once the three years are up, Terry said it will be up to the Clark County School District to decide if she can return to teaching. In the meantime, Pierce can teach adults at the junior college or university level.