MESA, AZ (CBS5) -
A Mesa teen accused of plotting a deadly attack on her high school will spend Christmas behind bars.
During the 16-year-old's first court appearance, the judge ruled against releasing her over concerns that she's a risk to herself and others.
Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies arrested the teen early Thursday morning after she admitted to posting, on a transgender community YouTube page, her plans to kill herself and other students at Red Mountain High School.
The teen appeared terrified as she faced the judge.
Wearing handcuffs and shackles, she spent much of the hearing hunched over and crying. At times, she even trembled as her attorney discussed the case with the judge.
Her attorney, James Padish, told the court his client is a troubled child.
He said while the teen is a straight A student with a large, loving family, "she's a kid who needs help."
In fact, her parents, grandparents and other members of her family attended the hearing - most of them crying throughout.
According to the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department, the teen has a history of unstable behavior, running away from home and has threatened to hurt herself in the past.
Because of that, they recommended she remain in detention until her next court hearing.
Padish, who spoke on behalf of the girl's parents, agreed stating, "the safest place for her, is to remain detained."
He said she needs stabilization and structure.
[Related: Arpaio: AZ teen's school shooting plot unrelated to CT shooting]
A motion for transfer hearing is set for 10:30 a.m., Jan. 14.
The County Attorney wants to try her as an adult because of the seriousness of the crime of which she's accused.
The teen faces one count of computer tampering - a class 5 felony.
The County Attorney's Office also tells CBS5 she will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Once Friday's hearing was over, a CBS5 reporter witnessed the teen head straight for her mother to give her a hug.
Both were crying.
The teen sobbed to her mother, "I am so sorry!" before embracing her other family members.
[Related: MCSO: AZ girl plotted to gun down students, kill herself]
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