Case Continued for Custodian Who Made Stafford School Threat

STAFFORD, CT — The custodian who made a shooting threat to a Stafford school appeared in Rockville Superior Court on Tuesday, the day after he was arrested amid a soft lockdown at the school complex a day earlier.

The custodian, identified by state police as 58-year-old David Wachta was taken into custody on Monday. He appeared in court on Tuesday and had his case continued to May 9, a clerk at Rockville Superior Court said. He remained free after posting a $110,000 bond, a clerk at the court said.

Wachta, a Monson, MA resident, was being investigated after state police received a complaint Friday about a threat he had made specifically against Stafford Middle School, a report indicates. State police were told Wachta said he was going to "shoot the school up," according to a report.

See more about the threat here.

Wachta surrendered to police Monday, but until he was in custody, Stafford schools were placed in a soft lockdown, Stafford Superintendent of Schools Steven Moccio said. He said Wachta's access to buildings was "removed" Monday morning.

Visitors were required to show identification. Students went to class inside the buildings, but no one was allowed outside, he said. State police were on hand for the midday Pre-K dismissal, Moccio said.

About the same time, state police said Wachta was in custody.

"While today's efforts were precautionary in nature, they provided us an opportunity to review the safety systems and procedures throughout the district," Moccio said in a letter to the school community sent Monday afternoon. "(Monday's) events are a continual reminder that if you see of hear something, you need to say something so that it can be immediately investigated."

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel (courthouse), State Police (Wachta's booking mug shot)