Twin sisters get probation, fines for posting death threats online

The classmates and the classmates' parents were frightened.
NEWARK, Ohio (AP) -- A judge sentenced twin sisters to probation for posting death threats against their high school classmates on a Web site, which they said was a prank.
Hanaa and Namaa Babieh, 16, apologized Friday in Licking County Juvenile Court.
Judge Robert Hoover sentenced them to 120 days of probation, 20 hours of community service and ordered each to pay a $100 fine of their own money.
"You frightened, you scared many, many people. You scared parents, students, faculty and staff," said Hoover, who also sentenced the girls to write 500-word essays about building character based on positive values.
The Newark High School sophomores were convicted on delinquency counts of disorderly conduct. Hoover dismissed charges of inducing panic as part of a plea agreement.
House arrest
Hoover also left the sisters on indefinite house arrest and required them to have adult supervision when they use computers.
Hanaa Babieh took most of the blame for creating the posting on www.xanga.com, which included pictures of Hitler and of dead bodies, along with threats to kill students. The blog site is popular with teenagers.
"I know I have learned my lesson and never will do anything this stupid again," she told Hoover.
The teenagers were arrested Dec. 6 after school officials got an anonymous tip and notified police. They were suspended from school and were reinstated this month.
Newark is about 40 miles east of Columbus.