EPHRATA - The 16-year-old boy whose threats of violence prompted the closure of Soap Lake Middle/High School last week agreed to wear an electronic monitoring device to soothe concerns of the community.

The device would alert law enforcement if the boy left his house for anything other than chores around the family property, mental health counseling or church.

He was ordered by Judge Doug Anderson to wear the device immediately.

The attorney for the boy, Ronnie Rae, said that his family were victims of the Moses Lake school shooting a number of years ago and fully understood the sensitivity of violence or threats of violence against school children and staff.

"That is why we are going to agree to the electronic monitoring," he told Anderson.

If convicted of a crime, the boy would receive time-served credit for time he spends under electronic monitoring.

Soap Lake Middle/High School Principal Rick Winters previously asked the court for electronic monitoring for the boy, and said after the hearing that he was pleased with the decision.

Rae said that the boy is in mental and substance-abuse counseling for his Marijuana use.

The boy had 5 family members in attendance that agreed to help monitor him and make sure that he follows the rules of his release.

Under the release agreement, he would be banned from the school, and must not contact any students or staff.