A Macomb County judge sentenced 42-year-old Crystal Royster to two weeks in jail and 18 months of probation after prosecutors said she called in two false bomb threats to Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores because her daughter was told she could not participate in a school play.
Royster pleaded guilty in November to making a false report or threat of a bomb, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. The sentence, handed down last week, credits her with three days already served and requires her to complete a Class A impulse-control course, avoid contact with victims, and notify the district before entering school grounds. Officials said the threats on March 12, 2025, prompted a large police response and a full evacuation of the building during an elementary school performance, but no explosives were found. The case comes amid renewed attention to school threats in Michigan, where districts have faced closures and scares tied to hoax calls.
According to investigators and a news release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, Royster phoned Lake Shore High twice on the morning of March 12 and claimed a bomb was in the building. Administrators initiated emergency protocols, moving students, staff and visitors outside while St. Clair Shores police, nearby agencies and detection dogs searched classrooms and common areas. More than 700 people were evacuated from the campus, authorities said. The all-clear was given after officers completed sweeps and determined there was no device. Officials said Royster’s daughter had been sent home earlier that day because she was sick and was ineligible to take part in the play under school policy.
Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael E. Servitto delivered the sentence after hearing from prosecutors about the disruption. “The defendant was sentenced today for making a false bomb report that resulted in a significant emergency response,” Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement issued after the hearing. Royster’s court-appointed attorney, identified in filings as Daniel Garon, did not respond to messages seeking comment following the sentencing. The district said operations resumed after the search and that it would continue to coordinate with law enforcement on threat assessments. No injuries were reported during the evacuation, which occurred as families attended an elementary performance at the high school auditorium.
Court records outline a straightforward timeline: a policy decision about a student’s participation, two phone calls, and an hours-long response that drew officers from multiple jurisdictions. The charge to which Royster pleaded guilty—false report or threat of a bomb—is a state felony that can carry prison time even when no device exists. Prosecutors said they agreed to a plea that left sentencing to the judge. Servitto ordered probation for 18 months with conditions that include the impulse-control course, notice to the school before she is on district grounds, and a no-contact provision for those affected by the threats. The judge also imposed 14 days in the county jail and credited Royster with three days served.
Lake Shore High School, part of Lake Shore Public Schools, sits along 13 Mile Road in St. Clair Shores, a lakeside suburb northeast of Detroit. Families and students were filing into the building for a children’s program when alarms sounded and staff directed people outside, witnesses told reporters at the time. Police vehicles lined the block as officers methodically cleared hallways and classrooms. By early afternoon, the search was complete and classes and activities were canceled for the day. District leaders reiterated that attendance and activity policies apply when students are sent home sick—an explanation that, according to investigators, triggered Royster’s calls.
The prosecutor’s office said the case was resolved with a guilty plea entered Nov. 13, 2025. Sentencing followed on Jan. 8, 2026, after a routine pre-sentence investigation. Though prison was possible, the judge determined probation with jail time and program requirements was appropriate. Lucido emphasized the cost and consequences of hoax threats, which pull police, firefighters and medical crews from other duties and sow fear across school communities. Authorities said the evacuation moved quickly because staff had practiced drills and maintained updated response plans.
Michigan schools have faced a string of unrelated threat incidents this month that closed campuses or interrupted schedules, though most were deemed non-credible. Officials pointed to the Macomb County case as an example of how false reports lead to felony charges and lasting court supervision. Threat investigations typically involve tracing phone records, reviewing campus cameras and interviewing staff, parents and students. In Royster’s case, detectives documented the calls to the high school, confirmed the student had been sent home ill earlier that day, and collected statements from administrators involved in the decision about participation in the play.
With sentencing complete, prosecutors said the matter moves into the compliance phase. Royster must complete the court-ordered impulse-control class, adhere to the no-contact requirement and provide notice before entering any Lake Shore campus. Failure to follow those conditions could trigger a probation violation and possible jail sanctions. The court’s order also requires her to keep authorities updated on her address and employment and to pay applicable fines and costs. No civil lawsuits were announced in connection with the threats, and school officials said they would continue reviewing security procedures and communications that were used during the evacuation.
Parents and students who were outside the building during the sweeps recalled a cold wait and the tense quiet that follows a threat announcement. One father said he parked across 13 Mile Road and watched officers carry gear inside. A student who had been preparing for the evening show said the cast scattered with their families, unsure whether the performance would go on. By nightfall the auditorium was dark, and staff were arranging make-up dates for programs affected by the disruption. Teachers later told colleagues the evacuation unfolded calmly, with students following the same routes used in drills.
As of Saturday, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said the criminal case is closed pending routine probation oversight. The next formal step is a review hearing if needed for compliance issues. Lake Shore Public Schools said it would continue working with police on future threat responses and that administrators would communicate with families about any rescheduled events affected by the March 2025 evacuation.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.