Navy corpsman linked to California school bomb threat surrenders

(CBS/AP) SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - Navy corpsman Daniel Morgan turned himself in Wednesday after leaving a threatening note claiming he planted bombs at a nearby Southern California high school. The incident prompted administrators to order students out of the building on the first day of classes.

Master Sgt. Mark Oliva said the 22-year-old surrendered at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base at around 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

According to Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino, Morgan was last seen at the base around 5 p.m. local time on Tuesday. When he failed to show up for work Wednesday morning, his barracks were searched and a note was discovered, he said.

Morgan wrote that he had placed explosive devices in and around San Clemente High School, which is located just a few miles from one of the gates to Camp Pendleton, Amormino said.

Soon after the note was found, about 3,200 students and 180 faculty members were told to leave the school's buildings. Students and staff waited on the school's football field - and later in the gymnasium, auditorium and other rooms - as bomb squads searched through buildings and classrooms. After four hours, everyone was sent home.

No bombs had been found by late Wednesday afternoon. Also, Marine Lt. Joshua Benson said officials didn't believe that any military-grade explosives were taken from the base.

Morgan was being interviewed by military authorities and could face a military charge of unauthorized absence after failing to report to duty, Oliva said.