Terrorist Student Zombies Creator Arrested.

[LostAngeles]

You think I'm kidding? Check this out. (http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=2989614&nav=EQlpWjof)

Apparently, the young man wrote a short story about zombies overruning a high school and was arrested for it after his grandparents turned it over to police.

The best part?

...
On Thursday, a judge raised Poole's bond from one to five thousand dollars after prosecutors requested it, citing the seriousness of the charge.
...

Of course, the police could really just be concerned about possible bad grammar and contrived plots, because that's always a serious concern. :eyeroll:

[TragicMonkey]

Even so, police say the nature of the story makes it a felony. "Anytime you make any threat or possess matter involving a school or function it's a felony in the state of Kentucky," said Winchester Police detective Steven Caudill.

This doesn't spell any good for any Buffy fanfic writers in Kentucky.

[webfusion]

This young man needs to immediately contact a Hollywood agent, and run with this for all it's worth!

Publicity like this can't be bought! It's a natural.

What movie producer wouldn't be able to turn this into a mega-bucks blockbuster by the summer?

The whole plot is perfect, just as it unfolds:

Kid writes story in journal.
Grandmother turns him into the cops.
Kid sits in jail.
Nobody believes him that it's just a "story"
Zombies do invade the school, bad karma for everyone.
Kid gets visit by lawyer in jail, telling him the bad news.
Lawyer turns out to be a zombie, too!
Bad karma for Bill Poole, the end.

Movie title:
Poole of Blood.

I want royalties for the idea.

[Art Vandelay]

Anything dealing with schools is a felony? So is this article a felony? Isn't a crucial part of a threat that it be intentionally delivered? If something is only accidentally discovered, that pretty much means it's not a threat, doesn't it? I think the people responsible for this should be criminally charged for violating his rights. Unless they're leaving something out. Which they could be.

[Kerberos]

Originally posted by Art Vandelay
Anything dealing with schools is a felony? So is this article a felony? Isn't a crucial part of a threat that it be intentionally delivered? If something is only accidentally discovered, that pretty much means it's not a threat, doesn't it? I think the people responsible for this should be criminally charged for violating his rights. Unless they're leaving something out. Which they could be.
Nah, it's only if you "posses" matter involving a schooll, since we don't own the board we should be safe, Randi might be in trouble though. :p

That being said there might be more to the story than is reported, I have trouble believing that anybody could be that stupid, even if they're Americans. *runs for cover*

[ahoneycutt]

so what, exactly, is freedom of speech good for if a kid can't even write stories about zombies (in his journal, no less) without being arrested? I saw a thread earlier asking "What changes would you make to your country's constitution", well, I say we get rid of freedom of speech once and for all. It seems to be on its last leg anyway.

- edit - I'm moving to Kentucky. Good music, good chicken, great police work.

[aerocontrols]

Hey Hey!
Ho Ho!
Anti-mortism's got to go!

Hey Hey!
Ho Ho!
Anti-mortism's got to go!

[TragicMonkey]

Why were Gramma and Grandpa pawing through his journal? And why would they rat him out for what they found?

Sounds like a screwed up family, to me.

My grandparents know that families are supposed to cover for each other, whether it's a vital alibi or just a place to stash some goods til the heat's off. Now that's family values.

[Kerberos]

Originally posted by TragicMonkey
Why were Gramma and Grandpa pawing through his journal? And why would they rat him out for what they found?

Sounds like a screwed up family, to me.

My grandparents know that families are supposed to cover for each other, whether it's a vital alibi or just a place to stash some goods til the heat's off. Now that's family values.
Or possibly he's a trouble maker with a long record of disobeying the teachers, beating up the other student without provocation and mutering "I'll teach them, I'll teach them all" under his breath. If that's the case, the reactions we're seeing would sudenly make a lot more sense.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Kerberos
Or possibly he's a trouble maker with a long record of disobeying the teachers, beating up the other student without provocation and mutering "I'll teach them, I'll teach them all" under his breath. If that's the case, the reactions we're seeing would sudenly make a lot more sense.

Even so, charging him with a felony for a work of fiction is a blatant violation of the principle of freedom of speech. Of course it's a dying concept anyway, so what the hell. Hang the little futhermucker.

[Kerberos]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
Even so, charging him with a felony for a work of fiction is a blatant violation of the principle of freedom of speech. Of course it's a dying concept anyway, so what the hell. Hang the little futhermucker.
True, but it would be a violation that made some sort of sense.

[TragicMonkey]

When I was in high school, I read a lot of Dorothy L Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and other British mystery writers. So I wrote two murder mystery short stories in high school, and handed them in. These days, I guess I'd be arrested for making threats against titled nobility.

"Admit it, kid, you were plotting to cause harm to Lord Simpington-Blythe on Boxing Day, by luring him into the yew alley behind the Dower House at Fauntleroy Manor!"

[csense]

It seems there may be more to the story than just an innocent work of fiction:



Student charged with threatening armed school takeover

Associated Press


WINCHESTER, Ky. - An 18-year-old high school student was in jail Friday, charged with threatening an armed takeover of his school.

William Poole, a junior at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, was arrested Thursday at school on a terroristic threatening charge.

The arrest came after a tip from a family member that Pool was trying to "recruit a gang to take over the school," Detective Berl Perdue said.

"He didn't have a gang, but he was attempting to organize one," Perdue said.

Police said writings in which Poole tried to persuade other students to take part in the takeover were found.

"We don't know who's included in this," George Rogers Clark Principal John Atkins said. "That's what we're working on, to see if there were other individuals involved. ... We're not sure that there are."

Source: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/10991368.htm

[csense]

...More:


Student jailed for alleged school takeover threat


By TIM WELDON/Sun Staff Writer


Winchester police have arrested a George Rogers Clark High School junior whom they allege was attempting to organize an armed takeover of the school.


William Poole, 18, of 426 E. Broadway, was arrested at GRCHS Tuesday. Acting on a tip from a family member, police reported that he was attempting to "recruit a gang to take over the school," according to Detective Berl Perdue.


The threat involved the use of weapons, according to Purdue. "He didn't have a gang, but he was attempting to organize one," he said. Purdue added that no threat was made against a specific individual.


GRCHS Principal John Atkins said he could not comment on whether Poole has been in disciplinary trouble at the school due to confidentiality reasons. He did comment that, "I know him."


Police recovered writings in which Poole allegedly attempted to convince other students to participate in an armed takeover. He was being held this morning at the Clark County Detention Center. During a hearing in Clark District Court this morning, Poole's bond was increased from a $1,000 to a $5,000 cash bond based on a prosecution motion.


Atkins said he has been unable to share some information with students and staff about the incident due to the continuing investigation. Classes continued normally Wednesday and today and there have been no problems, Atkins said.


"We did not have any concern that students had weapons at school," he said. "We don't know who's included in this. That's what we're working on, to see if there were other individuals involved. ... We're not sure that there are."


- Managing Editor Jennifer Ginn contributed to this story.

Source: http://www.winchestersun.com/articles/2005/02/24/local_news/news01.txt