This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. Feb. 14, 2012.

A Bowie teen is in Prince George’s County jail after allegedly using his Twitter account to threaten to kill a Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge.

Bowie High School ninth-grade student Garrett Alexander Bailey, 16, of the 12300 block of Melling Lane is charged as an adult with soliciting first-degree murder, illegal possession of a firearm and threatening a state official, Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Herman Dawson.

“Apparently, Mr. Bailey offered $1,000 for someone to kill Judge Dawson via his Twitter account,” said Cpl. Milam, a Prince George’s County sheriff’s office spokesman.

Charging documents show that Bailey had previously pleaded guilty to being involved in a breaking-and-entering incident and theft of less than $1,000. He was scheduled to have a sentencing hearing Tuesday with Dawson.

Milam said Bowie city police received an anonymous tip that Bailey was posting death threats on his Twitter and Facebook profiles against Dawson on Feb. 2, when they forwarded the incident information to the sheriff’s office.

“We received the tip, saw [the threat] on Twitter and forwarded it to the sheriff’s office,” said Bowie City Police Sgt. John Knott. “They’re responsible for investigating threats against judges.”

Milam said the sheriff’s office arrested Bailey on Feb. 6, and he is now being held without bond in the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro.

Bailey allegedly made racial slurs and threatening comments toward Dawson on Twitter, according to charging documents, which state that police also noticed photos of Bailey with a gun in his waistband on Facebook and tweets from Bailey referring to his weapon on Twitter.

Milam said deputies were able to find the weapon after apprehending him.

Dawson was notified of the alleged threats and appeared “shaken and concerned for his safety and the safety of his family” when notified, according to charging documents. Dawson requested extra security be available until the case is resolved.

Calls to Dawson’s chambers were not returned by deadline.

A preliminary hearing for Bailey is scheduled for Tuesday in Upper Marlboro, according to online Prince George’s County District Court records.

Soliciting first-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, according to charging documents.

Calls to Bailey’s residence were not immediately returned, nor were calls to Bowie High School administrators.

djgross@gazette.net