A 19-year-old Caseyville man who initially notified authorities about a bomb threat he found written on a bathroom stall in a men's restroom at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville was charged Friday.

James L. Sherrell, of 205 E. O'Fallon Drive, who is a student at the college, was charged with felony disorderly conduct. Investigators interviewed Sherrell and discovered "several discrepancies in his story," according to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department.

Sherrell was brought to the sheriff's department for further questioning. From these interviews, further information was obtained and that lead to the suspect's arrest and a search of his residence.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Johnson said, "While no evidence exists to believe there ever was a bomb, we take threats like this very serious."

The bomb threat was discovered written in pencil on a men's bathroom stall on the Belleville campus about 7:50 a.m. Thursday. The campus was evacuated and closed for the rest of the day. Bomb dogs from Illinois Secretary of State, St. Louis County Police Department, and Scott Air Force Base were all used to clear the large buildings on campus. Classes resumed on Friday morning.

Sherrell is being held in the St. Clair County Jail. His bail has been set at $40,000.

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526.