CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (From The Chillicothe Gazette) -- A contractor employee pleaded guilty Friday to sending a text message threatening the Glatfelter paper mill the day before because he "wanted the day off."

Kenneth Kenndedy, 24, of Steubenville, pleaded guilty to inducing panic, a first-degree misdemeanor, during his arraignment Friday. He was sentenced to 30 days in the Ross County Jail and one year of probation.

Ross County Sheriff's Office deputies went to Glatfelter on Thursday afternoon to investigate threats in a text message made by a contractor's employee who allegedly threatened to "blow up the paper plant."

Deputies then went to the MPW Industrial Service office on Cooks Hill Road and met with the work crew, who all denied sending the threatening texts, according to incident reports.

One employee showed Sgt. Carl Lawhorn a text message from Kenndedy saying, "please don't tell it was me I wanted the day off." Lawhorn looked at the two men's phones and noted they had identical text messages except Kenndedy appeared to have deleted the final text, asking the other employee not to tell officials it was him that sent the threat.

Kenndedy continued to deny he sent the messages but claimed no one else used his phone that day, according to reports.

An explosive's detecting K-9 unit did not indicate on the crew's van, the vehicle of the employee who drove Kenndedy to work, or in Kenndedy's room at the Comfort Inn in Circleville. A second K-9 unit who sniffed the van did alert, but nothing was found inside after a search.

When questioned via email about how the threat was discovered and what steps Glatfelter took once they learned of the threat, Mitzi Anderson, senior human resources manager, replied, "all the critical factors" in the event were already covered in the Gazette's initial story posted online Tuesday morning.

Mike Zimmerman, marketing director for MPW Industrial Service, said the threat was "obviously something we would never condone," and that the company has a longstanding, strong partnership with Glatfelter.

"I'm certainly glad the perpetrator was found and acting was taken immediately," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman noted that Kenndedy's employment with the company has been terminated.