Boy, 14, Arrested for Cyber-Bullying 12-Year-Olds

Police arrested a 14-year-old Jersey City boy for allegedly threatening two 12-year-old boys on Facebook because he thought they were interested in his girlfriend.

The teen faces charges of harassment and making terroristic threats.

He sent Facebook messages to the victims that called them "gay," "fat," and "a punk," according to acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murphy. He also threatened to kill and hurt them, prosecutors said.

In a message to one of the Belleville victims, the teen threatened to tie the boy to a pole, attach a rope and hook to the boy's stomach, tie it to his car and drive off, tearing off his body, said Murphy.

He used fake screen names on Facebook to threaten one victim, prosecutors said. He used a second and third name when the first was blocked.

The 14-year-old apparently sent the messages because he believed the other boys were interested in a girl he liked.

Investigators do not believe he knew the boys personally.

The boys finally told their parents about the threatening messages they had been receiving since early February, and the parents contacted Belleville Police.

Belleville Police, along with Jersey City Police and the Essex County Prosecutor's Cyber Crimes Unit, arrested the 14-year-old Monday morning after executing a search warrant at his Jersey City home.

The teen was processed and released to his parents.

Charges will be forwarded to Hudson County Prosecutor's Office because of the location of the teen's residence, said Murphy.

It will be up the Hudson County prosecutor to decide whether to charge and try him as an adult.

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