$500,000 Donation Frees Jailed League of Legends Player

[thiosk]

Why? Just.. why? You know Mr. good Samaritan $500,000 can do a lot of things, buy you a new TV, feed the poor, make a giant fire if you get it all in singles, hell just roll it up and smoke that shit just to show how rich you are, anything is a more noble cause than getting this braindead little shit out of jail.

Perhaps he realized he could put an end to a serious justice deficiency within his country's justice system?

If you realize that the book has been thrown at someone-- they really threw everything they could at this guy-- and you believe it is a gross overreach of justice, why not?

Besides, provided the kid shows up for court on time and does everything he's supposed to do, even in the event of a conviction only 3% of the bail money is seized by the government (at least, in the united states). A bail bond company has to put that cash up front, and takes some of those funds for providing the financing.

It isn't for you to judge what is an appropriate use of someone else's money. If you want to feed all the homeless or burn your singles, you are more than welcome to.

 

[DugMachine]

What he said was moronic but the jail time was just ridiculous. Whoever paid his bail is gold in my book. I'm sure when this gets taken to court it'll get thrown out when they realize how stupid this whole thing is.

 

[PirateRose]

The simple fact is, people wanted to make money. Yes, someone clearly overreacted to report this, but then the system said, hey we can make some money here. Every head in the prison system is more money in people's pockets somewhere, that's why people are imprisoned for bull crap, why innocent people are so easily found guilty, and why rich jerks get out of the crap they are in when they have committed an actual crime.

Yeah he got bail, someone got paid, and they'll get paid more in the continuing case and if they convict him they'll get even more.

It costs the state more to investigate, charge and prosecute this boy than it ever would have if they'd just let it drop. District Attorneys don't care, they get paid either way. It's only the taxpayers' money after all.

The growth of privately owned prisons are making money off of every head in their prison. Government is thinking they are saving money by giving the prisons to privately owned corporations, however, the corporations are running them like business models. Worse, judges have admitted to sending kids to juvenile detention for minor offenses because they would get paid money return. Who's to say that can't happen on the larger scale of full, adult prison. I bet if someone would actual, really investigate the people trying to put this kid in jail, they'll probably find all kinds of kickbacks and bribes and money going around, besides the district attorney's greed.

 

[shirkbot]

This case went through too many people and would result in too many firings. In addition apparently the Canadian woman who reported the boy was out for money. The resultant damages suit would include so many defendants.

This is one of those instances where there really can be no such thing as "too many firings." In all honesty the judge will probably throw the case out unless there is something in the various terror laws that bars them from doing so. The whole thing is a debacle from soup to nuts, and it makes the legal system look like a circus.

 

[Jaer44]

Ok, here's some basic facts regarding this case (and the others around the country like it, fyi, I am not in agreement of the decision of the high bail or the treatment of Justin, I'm just relaying the information):

1. There is a federal law, 18 USC § 875(c), a 3rd degree Felony charge. It's the requirement of the authorities to investigate (e.g. serve warrants, seize property and do a full investigation) if the complaint seems valid.

2. There have been several arrests and/or convictions regarding this law. One such case is *VERY* similar to this case, where the defendant is/was serving 19 months in prison, even after he tried to appeal the case with stating that it was sarcastic remarks, the conviction was reaffirmed.

3. All warrants were served by the book and the case was actually handled properly, in the beginning, the bail was set at 250k (which even then was high)but he was in the wrong jurisdiction and moved to the proper court where the bail was raised to 500k. I'm guessing because of "flight risks".

4. The Bail is returned after the court costs and any damages/fees are assessed.

5. Legally, "j/k" and "lol" are not defenses with this law, and even then, it's only alleged that he posted that.

6. The argument of "Freedom of Speech" may not apply here as one of the unprotected caveats of that amendment is "Threats", but in most court cases, it's a grey area and has gone either way.

Everything *except* the bail is standard practice for a federal law, and felony charge. I personally think that the Bail was significantly higher than it should've been, in all honesty, house arrest with a ankle restraint would've been sufficient. The issue wasn't him breaking the law, which by the way, he admitted to the comment with his apology, which may get him in trouble in the end ("admission of guilt"), it was the high bail that was set. This particular law is considered legally equivalent to "child molestation, assault and battery, weapon possession, dissemination of child pornography, and certain forms of theft, fraud, and property destruction via methods like arson".

TBH, While I don't agree with what he said, or the bail, I am glad to see that he's out. He'll have his time in court, and I hope that everyone realizes that while you have the 1st amendment, there *are* consequences for what you say.

Edit: For the record, he was in a County Jail, not a private prison.

 

[nathan-dts]

What he did was stupid, but he didn't deserve to just be thrown in jail. I'm glad he's out for the time being, and hats off to the good soul who put up the money.

Not even stupid. Quite clearly, sarcasm. Not even a remotely credible threat because of that still-beating heart comment.

 

[Fappy]

We should mandate that anyone who says "LOL JK" within a certain time frame after saying something crazy automatically gets written off as being sarcastic (whether it's in poor taste or not).

 

[grey_space]

snip

That was a very informed sounding first post. Thank you. As a non US national I have no knowledge of the legal system whatsoever but if this kid broke the law by making those 'sarcastic' or 'off the cuff' remarks then maybe he shouldn't have said them.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Moral of the story: don't talk shit.

I find it hard to feel sorry for this guy. Too many people are just so needlessly abusive to each other on the internet simply because they think that they can.

Saying that I really feel that he shouldn't go to jail. There is far worse than him out there.

 

[major_chaos]

I wish someone threw you in jail for something stupid you said when you were a kid, and locked you up in solitary confinement with no light of day and no human interaction for months going on years. And I want you to read forum posts of people mocking you and calling you a braindead little shit. Maybe then you'll realize exactly how you sound right now.

Yea, I would feel really stupid for having been a braindead little shit. Hell that's already how I look back on almost everything I did before I was 17. Although somehow I never did say I was going to kill anyone, or rape their mother, or beat them like a n*****, its almost like I never thought the internet gave me an excuse to stop acting like a functioning human being and turn into a howling neanderthal.

You have no idea how utterly ... repulsive I find that notion. You're valuing a human life at less than negative.

And? No I really don't give damn about this guy, just another punk kid with a "lol anonymity means I get to be a twat" outlook. And its not like he is up for the death penalty or anything, his "life" isn't on the line here, his freedom is.

And do you honestly believe that one offhand instance of sarcasm is nearly enough to paint a picture of one's intelligence?

That exact sarcasm, in such close proximity to horrible events, said on a publicly viewable website most likely is.

 

[Weaver]

Wait, they didn't put him in solitary to begin with? They put him in the common tank with all the crack heads and armed robbers?

 

[Ickorus]

"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 first time I saw this story it was reported he ended the 'threat' with "LoL JK." Was that incorrect?

He did. People have just been carelessly omitting it.

Even without that addition, the whole thing is just dripping with sarcasm. Who else thinks the investigator for this case should be fired on grounds of incompetency?

I'm no scientist, but I find it's always jackass District Attorneys trying to move up in the District Attorney world who wind up prosecuting stuff like this.

Perhaps. But someone looked at this and made the judgement call, "Looks like teh terror to me, let's arrest his ass." That person is either incompetent or malicious, either way they should not be in the position to be able to do this.

I can understand them seeing it and looking into it but it's unbelievable that they arrested him and threw him in jail and then only a week or so later got around to searching his house and then left him in jail despite having absolutely no evidence suggesting he was serious and plenty pointing in the other direction.

 

[Yuuki]

People who aren't happy to see this guy go free, you do realize his life is basically fucked due to having such a massive allegation on his name which received so much negative press right? I wish him good luck finding a job, or even completing his education.

He's going to pay the price of what he said for years and years to come. It's obviously not as bad (or retarded) as an 8 year prison sentence, but it's still a lot considering how silly this whole thing was.

He faced the prospect of spending 8 years in jail (basically all his youth gone) - do people know what kind of mental torture that inflicts, to spend every waking minute thinking about how you're going to prison over something so pathetic, almost as if your life has no worth? To know you will spend the next 8 years locked in a cell with real criminals while they try to assault (or worse, rape) you? I mean in the short time he spent on bail he was ALREADY assaulted and he must've pretty much assumed the next 8 years would be just more of that - of course he was put on suicide watch, any kid would be contemplating suicide at that point! I can only imagine a tiny sliver of the mental torture he has faced so far and it frightens me.

I assure you, this boy has already paid the price for what he said ten-fold, it will have completely changed him and it will continue to impact him for years to come.

 

[DragonStorm247]

while you have the 1st amendment, there *are* consequences for what you say.

Those consequences do not/should not directly include governmental action and imprisonment. Like screaming "fire" in a building, the issue is not punishment for saying that word, the issue is accountability of the resulting panic and injuries that result from said panic. That's what we as a society should be focusing on. Responsibility for how people react.

Which in this case is people feeling uncomfortable. First Amendment covers that.

 

[RJ 17]

Gotta love how the world has a way of doing stuff like this just when you're about to say "Goodness in humanity is dead." I'm glad the guy's out of jail, an innocent gamer really can't fit in with hardened inmates. As for the trial, it should be easy enough to get a not guilty verdict...seeing as how when the cops searched his house they found absolutely no evidence to suggest that the "terroristic threats" were anything but a joke - a very, VERY stupid joke - but a joke none the less. Hopefully the jury will be able to see that this was just a gross overreaction on the part of the authorities.

 

[Seydaman]

This whole case is completely retarded, and I hope the kid is alright. I know I've made questionable comments before, but no one is locking me up. *Displeased face*

 

[DragonStorm247]

I can understand them seeing it and looking into it but it's unbelievable that they arrested him and threw him in jail and then only a week or so later got around to searching his house and then left him in jail despite having absolutely no evidence suggesting he was serious and plenty pointing in the other direction.

That's my point. If they had simply said, "We received a call, let's check this out, maybe do a search. Looks like an overreaction, let's go," I would have no problem with this.

You have no idea how utterly ... repulsive I find that notion. You're valuing a human life at less than negative.

And? No I really don't give damn about this guy, just another punk kid with a "lol anonymity means I get to be a twat" outlook. And its not like he is up for the death penalty or anything, his "life" isn't on the line here, his freedom is.

Simple sarcasm and anonymous hate-spewing are not even remotely close to being the same thing. And yes, I do indeed mean "life". The outright theft of eight years and five months of it. Plus he had to be put on suicide watch because of this; make no mistake, down the line that could very well be the death of an innocent on their hands.

Not to mention even if they don't send him back to jail, the psychological and legal weight this will carry for the rest of his life. His future is arguably already ruined.

 

[Draconalis]

When I was in middle school, I was frustrated and said "If I had a gun, I'd kill just about everyone in this classroom". shortly after Columbine. The comment was taken seriously, I talked with a psychiatrist, I was sent to the high school to be segregated for a period or two weeks, I wager so people could watch me, and they concluded I was blowing off steam.

They told me to be more careful about what I said.



So... as someone who's been there... I feel that throwing someone in jail for 6 months and facing prison time is rather draconian. There are better ways.