Opelika man arrested on additional child pornography charges following school threat investigation
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- 18-year-old Jacob Scott Howell arrested on 15 counts of child pornography possession following school threat investigation.
- Howell initially charged with terrorist threat for planned Opelika High School attack; now banned from all Alabama schools.
The Opelika Police Department has arrested an 18-year-old man on additional charges following an ongoing criminal investigation into a planned violent attack against Opelika High School.
Jacob Scott Howell was initially arrested Monday, August 31, 2026, and charged with Making a Terrorist Threat, First Degree, following an investigation into the alleged planned attack against the school.
According to Opelika police, Howell posted bond and was released from the Lee County Jail later that afternoon.
During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered what police identified as child pornography on Howell’s electronic devices.
On Thursday, September 3, Howell was arrested on 15 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday, September 4, 2026.
Police also said Howell is now banned from all school campuses in the state of Alabama.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Opelika Police Department at (334) 705-5200 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665.
Tips may also be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App, and callers may choose to remain anonymous.
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