12-year-old charged in Ashton hoax (From Lancashire Telegraph)

12-year-old charged in Ashton hoax

12:20am Friday 8th February 2013 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with making prank calls that sent police to the home of Ashton Kutcher and to a Los Angeles bank.

Prosecutors allege that the boy called 911 in October and said armed men were inside Ashton's home. A week later, a call reporting an emergency at a bank on Wilshire Boulevard also proved to be a hoax.

The district attorney's office said that the boy has been charged with two felony counts of making fake bomb threats and computer intrusion. He is set to be arraigned on Friday in juvenile court.

Authorities did not release the boy's name because of his age.

The practice of making such hoax calls has become known as "swatting." The hoaxes often target the homes of celebrities.