A county judge granted an emergency injunction to the Butler Area School District barring a Center Township man who once attended the school from entering its grounds or any school function after police said he made an online threat.

Police arrested Ryan C. McConnell, 24, Jan. 17 after he allegedly posted a photo of himself on social media site Snapchat, holding a semi-automatic rifle and ammunition with the message, “Ready for school!” at the bottom.

McConnell told police he was joking, but the Butler district didn't take the incident lightly. On Wednesday, Superintendent Brian White and the school's lawyer, Ronald Elliott, appeared before Judge Michael S. Yaeger for a petition for an emergency injunction to keep McConnell off the school's property.

“We're always disappointed when someone makes these kinds of statements, and we take these threats seriously,” White said after the hearing, noting the court action was made for the safety of students.

McConnell is facing five criminal charges, including a felony in the incident, and he is in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bond.

The FBI on Jan. 17 notified police of the photo on the photo-sharing app Snapchat, according to investigators. The photo, police said, showed McConnell holding an AR-15 rifle and a canister of ammunition.

The caption, along with the photo, did not list a specific school or school district. But Elliott said that McConnell had once attended Butler Area High School and this measure was taken as a precaution. He was not sure if McConnell graduated from the school or just attended.

Cpl. Mike Lewis said police went to McConnell's home, where he was arrested. At the home, he said, police also seized the suspected rifle in the photo as well as a pistol, ammunition and two cell phones.

“The defendant related upon his arrest that the photo was meant to be a joke, and he had no intention of following (through) with taking a rifle to a school,” Lewis said in the criminal complaint.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned McConnell on a felony charge of aggravated assault by attempting to place a school, or teachers and students, in fear of imminent serious bodily harm.

McConnell also was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct. His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 26.

A hearing on a final injunction will be held Friday, when McConnell will have a chance to respond.