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Texas teenager released on $500,000 bail over 'terroristic' Facebook post | Texas teenager released on $500,000 bail over 'terroristic' Facebook post |
(2 months later) | |
A teenager was released from prison on Thursday after serving nearly four months for making "terroristic threats" on Facebook. | A teenager was released from prison on Thursday after serving nearly four months for making "terroristic threats" on Facebook. |
Justin Carter, 19, was released on bail after an anonymous person donated $500,000 to his family to cover bail, according to MSNBC. | Justin Carter, 19, was released on bail after an anonymous person donated $500,000 to his family to cover bail, according to MSNBC. |
In February, Carter was involved in an argument about a video game on Facebook when people responded by telling him he was "crazy". He replied: "Oh yeah, I'm real messed up in the head. I'm going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still-beating hearts." The comment was followed by "lol" and "jk", to indicate the jokes were in jest. | In February, Carter was involved in an argument about a video game on Facebook when people responded by telling him he was "crazy". He replied: "Oh yeah, I'm real messed up in the head. I'm going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still-beating hearts." The comment was followed by "lol" and "jk", to indicate the jokes were in jest. |
A woman in Canada saw the posting and reported it to a Canadian crime watch group. The information then made its way to Texas, where Carter lives, and he was arrested. | A woman in Canada saw the posting and reported it to a Canadian crime watch group. The information then made its way to Texas, where Carter lives, and he was arrested. |
Carter's bail was initially set to $250,000, then raised to $500,000 after he transferred jails. | Carter's bail was initially set to $250,000, then raised to $500,000 after he transferred jails. |
A grand jury indicted him on terroristic charges on 10 April after he rejected a plea deal to serve eight years in prison. | A grand jury indicted him on terroristic charges on 10 April after he rejected a plea deal to serve eight years in prison. |
His mother, Jennifer Carter, created a petition on Change.org in an effort to raise awareness about his case. She said the post was sarcastic and that her son had been repeatedly assaulted in prison. | His mother, Jennifer Carter, created a petition on Change.org in an effort to raise awareness about his case. She said the post was sarcastic and that her son had been repeatedly assaulted in prison. |
His response may have been in bad taste, but it was written in a non-threatening way that didn't translate well online. None of his friends or family would even question his intention as anything other than a poor choice of words. Things got out of control, but my son is not a felon and terrorist as he's currently being charged! | His response may have been in bad taste, but it was written in a non-threatening way that didn't translate well online. None of his friends or family would even question his intention as anything other than a poor choice of words. Things got out of control, but my son is not a felon and terrorist as he's currently being charged! |
The petition had received more than 121,500 signatures on Thursday. | The petition had received more than 121,500 signatures on Thursday. |
His father Jack Carter agreed that the words were poorly chosen and that he understands why authorities were cautious about the comments. | His father Jack Carter agreed that the words were poorly chosen and that he understands why authorities were cautious about the comments. |
"I definitely see the need to investigate such claims. Absolutely," he told CNN. "But at some point during the investigation there has to be some common sense." | "I definitely see the need to investigate such claims. Absolutely," he told CNN. "But at some point during the investigation there has to be some common sense." |
Carter's story is one of several recent cases of people making Facebook posts that result in arrest. | Carter's story is one of several recent cases of people making Facebook posts that result in arrest. |
On Tuesday, UK resident Reece Elliott received a 28-month prison sentence for posting a threat to kill 200 US children at a school in Tennessee. The school locked down the day after he posted the threat, causing more than 3,000 students to miss school. | On Tuesday, UK resident Reece Elliott received a 28-month prison sentence for posting a threat to kill 200 US children at a school in Tennessee. The school locked down the day after he posted the threat, causing more than 3,000 students to miss school. |
Cameron D'Ambrosio, an 18-year-old from Massachusetts, was arrested in May for "communicating a terroristic threat" after writing a Facebook post that referenced the Boston Marathon bombings and calling the White House a "federal house of horrors". | Cameron D'Ambrosio, an 18-year-old from Massachusetts, was arrested in May for "communicating a terroristic threat" after writing a Facebook post that referenced the Boston Marathon bombings and calling the White House a "federal house of horrors". |
"There are no more threats that are high school pranks," said police chief Joseph Solomon during a press conference following the arrest. "If they're thinking that way, they need to get their heads into 2013." | "There are no more threats that are high school pranks," said police chief Joseph Solomon during a press conference following the arrest. "If they're thinking that way, they need to get their heads into 2013." |
D'Ambrosio was released in June after a grand jury refused to indict him. | D'Ambrosio was released in June after a grand jury refused to indict him. |
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