Waseca teen accused in foiled school plot pleads guilty

Updated: 3:44 p.m. | Posted: 2:30 p.m.

A Waseca teen who prosecutors say planned to kill his family, bomb his school and kill as many students as possible pleaded guilty to one felony count of possessing explosives Friday.

The plea agreement requires John LaDue, 18, to live in a secured facility and receive treatment for autism spectrum disorder. The deal also dismissed five remaining felony counts of possessing incendiary devices.

John LaDue was initially charged with four counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted criminal damage to property and six counts of possession of explosive devices. The attempted murder and criminal damage to property charges were dismissed in July.

"Unfortunately, Minnesota's attempt law does not cover the actions and planning exhibited by John LaDue," the Waseca County Attorney's office said in a statement about the plea deal Friday. "With the loss of the attempt charges, gone also was any possibility of a long prison sentence."

Psychologists diagnosed LaDue with autism and said he's detached from his family, has violent ideologies and doesn't acknowledge the serious consequences of his actions. LaDue would have been tried as an adult after a judge approved his certification last month.

But experts also concluded that LaDue's public safety risk could be reduced with the proper treatment.

Waseca prosecutors say the plea agreement was a result of those recommendations.

"It is our belief that this plea offer is the best outcome possible, under the circumstances, to ensure public safety," according to the statement.

But LaDue's father, David LaDue, said he wished his son wouldn't have changed his plea.

"For lack of information, I would have liked to have seen the trial go through and see all the detail come out," he said. "But that's kind of selfish of me."

Police officers found LaDue at a storage locker in April 2014 after a nearby resident reported suspicious activity. In searches of his house and the storage locker, police said they found a gun, explosives, bomb-making supplies and a journal in which he described how he would attack his family and school. He also told investigators he "wanted as many victims as possible," according to court records released last year.

Although he wasn't part of the discussions, David LaDue said the offer to plead guilty to one count as opposed to six played a major role in John's decision.

"He did not accept the six bombing charges," he said. "He was more than ready to go and have his day in court and have that explained."

LaDue will be on probation once released from treatment, according to the plea deal. An Oct. 19 sentencing date has been set.