A Flomaton woman, the only adult among four people accused of using a social media site to send cryptic death threats to a Flomaton High School student in 2016, was ordered to serve five years on probation for her role in the much-publicized “Flomo Klown” incident.
According to court documents, 23-year-old Makayla Smith entered a guilty plea to one count of making a terroristic threat. She had initially also been charged with one count of disruption of school activities by making a terroristic threat, but that charge was dropped as part of the plea bargain.
Smith’s probated sentence carries a stipulation that prohibits her from using any and all social media during the 60-month probationary period.
She was originally sentenced to 120 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended and she was placed on probation. She could reportedly be subject to the 10-year imprisonment if she violates the terms of her probation.
Smith and three juveniles — a 12-year-old from Pensacola and Flomaton teens ages 14 and 15 — posted the seemingly threatening messages during a time when “Klown” sightings were being reported across the state and nation.
According to Flomaton Police Department reports, the FHS student who eventually was the target of the threats received a friend request from the screen name “Flomo Klown.” The request was accepted by the teen, who queried the person making it about how that person knew him.
Shortly after accepting the online request, the student began receiving messages from “Flomo Klown,” including “coming for you,” “gonna kill you” and “see you at school.” Later messages included “I kill people for a living” and “it’s going down tonight.”
Police later determined that the 12-year-old, using the Facebook screen name “Shoota Clown,” actually posted the threats that led to increased security at Flomaton High School, Flomaton Elementary School, Huxford Elementary School and Escambia County High School, among others, with the presence of police officers and/or sheriff’s deputies on each campus.