Tag: vault

Glenn R. Stutzky: State’s terror law is abused:

According to the article, Glenn R. Stutzky is a clinical instructor at Michigan State University’s School of Social Work. The law he is referring to is the law that convicted would be school shooter Andrew Osantowski. He has some issues with Michigan’s terror law…

The terrorism statute was designed to assist law enforcement in dealing with adults who threaten to commit acts of terrorism and not for use against school-aged children.

So what you’re saying is that school-aged children, in this case, 17-years-old, are not capable of acts of terrorism? I think there are some people in Colorado and Minnesota who probably disagree with you.

Here is the problem: The terrorism law does not distinguish between a student “making” a threat and actually “posing” a threat.

Did Andrew Osantowski really “pose” a threat?

That may not be the best question; a better one might be: “Where was he along the continuum between just blowing off steam and actually taking action?”

Andrew Osantowski did, in fact, pose a threat. Or was having guns, ammo, and bomb-making instructions just blowing off steam?

Mr. Stutzky also pushes some well-meaning but probably doesn’t apply in real life program…

Oakland Schools has developed “Guidelines for Assessing Threatening Dangerous Behaviors in Schools”, a systematic and comprehensive process to assess threats made by students and a means to address dangerous behaviors through an integrated intervention plan.

The intervention begins immediately and ultimately involves the student, family, school, and community. Every threat is taken serious and initiates a process that results in a determination of the level of concern that exists – strong, moderate, or minimal and has a clear threshold of when to contact and involve the police.

Law enforcement benefits from GATDBS by not having to immediately come out to a school every time a threat is spoken, e-mailed, or written on a bathroom wall.

Emphasis mine.

That’s some good thinkin’ there, Glenn. If the police didn’t take every threat seriously, how many shootings do you think would have happened by now, including the one involving Andrew Osantowski? How many people do you think Andrew Osantowski would have killed if his threat was not taken seriously? Do you want that kind of blood on your hands? You probably wouldn’t care. You’d just blame it on something else. Like the oppressive legal system or some such other nonsense. And the fact that you consider yourself an educator is frightening.

Michigan teen guilty of making threats to attack school:

(Log in info) Andrew Osantowski’s defense attorney, Brian Legghio, continues to crack me up…

Defense attorney Brian Legghio said he plans to file an appeal after the sentencing arguing, among other things, the cache of weapons discovered in Osantowski’s home should have not been admissible as evidence. Prosecutors did not have to prove Osantowski had the capability or the intent to carry out a threat, he said, and called that evidence prejudicial.

“When you peel that away, all you’re left with is a text message,” said Legghio, who doubted the message alone would have been enough to get a conviction.

He added that he would “bet my bar card” that the conviction would be overturned on appeal.

I would love to take that bet. Osantowski pleaded guilty to the stolen weapons charge, so why shouldn’t it have been presented as evidence? Why is it prejudicial if it’s fact?

What is also very interesting is this quote from Chippewa Valley Superintendent Mark Deldin…

“There probably would have been some fear in our community if he had gone back home, in our neighborhoods,” Deldin said. “But I think the biggest message that this verdict sends today goes beyond Chippewa Valley Schools. It’s a resounding message that threats of violence and terrorism in our schools will not be tolerated.”

Emphasis mine.

That’s a great point. This case should have gotten more media attention than it did. This case should serve as a warning to those who would entertain the thought of attacking their school that this is their fate. I hope the sentencing phase drives home that point as well.

Macomb County teen found guilty of threatening terrorism:

A jury found Andrew Osantowski guilty of threatening an act of terrorism and using a computer to threaten terrorism. Each charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set to take place on July 11.

Trial ends for terror suspect:

This is another article about the Andrew Osantowski trial. It doesn’t provide much more information than already given, but a couple of the paragraphs regarding Andrew Osantowski’s attorney, Brian Legghio, made my jaw drop…

Legghio, however, voiced some doubt about the authenticity or completeness of McGinty’s record of the chats as submitted to her father; he also likened himself to fictional Atticus Finch for defending a marginal and unpopular client and compared his client to Japanese Americans during World War II or blacks in the old South.

Legghio said the teen was misguided or a geek, who probably needs therapy. He said Osantowski did not show any intent to coerce civilians or the government.

“That’s the most important element,” Legghio told the jury in closings. “Otherwise, by God you can just forget your free speech, because you aren’t going to have any left.”

Emphasis mine.

Could this guy be any more arrogant? And here I thought doctors were the only ones with God complexes. I guess criminal defense attorneys do too.

Jury weighs terror, firearm charges against teen:

I guess I watch too much Law & Order. I was expecting a longer trial. The trial for Andrew Osantowski on terror charges ended yesterday, and the jury will deliberate on his fate today. I guess that’s what they mean by your right to a speedy trial. However, the way juries have been acting lately, I’m not getting my hopes up on a conviction.