ROY, Utah - One of the two suspects arrested for conspiring to blow up Roy High School is now running for city mayor.
In 2012, Joshua Hoggan, who was 16 at the time, and Dallin Morgan, then 18, conspired to detonate a bomb during an assembly at Roy High School then escape using a plane stolen from the Ogden-Hinckley Airport.
The bomb plot came to light after two other Roy High School students notified school officials of ominous text messages sent by Hoggan.
Further investigation of the boys' homes and cars by police found a map of Roy High School marked with security cameras and their blind spots, plus other evidence of extensive research and training to complete the bombing.
Searches of Roy High School found no sign of dangerous material. Both boys were arrested.
Morgan pleaded no contest to second-degree felony criminal mischief last August and was sentenced to 105 days in jail and up to 18 months probation.
Hoggan pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon of mass destruction and spent six months at a juvenile detention facility.
Now Hoggan is out of jail and is running for mayor of Roy City. Because Hoggan was not tried as an adult, he is eligible to run for mayor, and he has met all the requirements to be on the mayoral ballot.
"If they are 18 and they are a citizen and they live in Roy and they met that kind of qualification, they can run for office," said Chris Davis, Roy City Manager.
In an email to The Standard Examiner, Hoggan says his time in juvenile detention has rehabilitated him and he can be trusted.
"I feel that my past with the Roy High School incident can definitely play a role in whether I could gain enough votes to secure the mayoral race," Hoggan wrote. "I have made more than my fair share of mistakes and I feel that being trusted with the mayorship would be the ultimate way for me to fully give back to my community."
Hoggan will face off against current mayor Joe Ritchie and current councilman Willard Cragun in a primary race to be held in August.
Neither Hoggan nor the other two mayoral candidates returned phone calls asking for comment.
