Teen’s Plot to Attack School Thwarted by Police

The 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado was a horrific tragedy that gripped an entire nation in disbelief and sorrow for the victims and their families. A recent story on the Today News website reported that a Tampa high school teen hoped to outdo the teens who were involved in the Columbine incident, but fortunately police stopped him before he could carry out his deadly plot.

Tampa Police arrested the teen after receiving a tip from an informant. A search of his home uncovered materials to make pipe bombs, as well sketches of classrooms and written statements of his plans. According to police, the 17-year-old planned to bomb the high school from which he was expelled in 2010 and “cause more casualties than those suffered at Columbine”. He is believed to have had no accomplices. The teen was charged with threatening to discharge, place, project or throw a destructive device, possession of materials for making bombs and growing marijuana in his room in his home.

The drug charges, combined with the magnitude of this teen’s attempted crime, plus a long list of  previous juvenile arrests may prompt a judge to charge him as an adult. His criminal defense attorney will have a hard time convincing a judge to be lenient toward a young man who has already shown a blatant disregard for the law and for human life. If he is convicted as an adult, he may face jail time. His defense attorney will undoubtedly try to present a solid argument for less than the maximum penalty. He will also prepare his client for the possibility that the judge may be unconvinced that his client should not spend some serious time in prison.

Prank Goes Awry and Teens Face Charges

Few teenagers haven’t pulled a prank or two in their lives, but sometimes a prank can have serious life-changing consequences. Three or four Wisconsin teens are going to need a real good criminal defense attorney once police catch up with them. According to a recent Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel story, juveniles throwing water-filled cups onto drivers from a highway bridge are being blamed for a four-vehicle crash that involved a pickup truck and three semitrailers.

Right-lane traffic on the highway had to be closed until the damage from the accident was cleared. The cups thrown were traced to a local fast food restaurant. They went to the restaurant and asked for information on patrons who had come in and ordered water with their orders. They were able to get a description of the suspects from the information they were given.

Authorities were looking for three to four male teenagers, age ranging from 15 to 18. They were believed to be driving a red pickup truck with a decal sticker of the letter “M” with a claw design running through the letter on the side window behind the driver. The driver was described as a white male wearing a knit cap.

The 18-year old teens involved in this crime would be charged as a adult and thus face more serious penalties for their crime. The younger teens would be charged as a juvenile and most likely sent to juvenile detention, unless a judge determines that they should be charged as an adult as well. Luckily for these mischievous criminals no one was injured, or the best a criminal defense attorney could hope for is probation or a shorter jail term.

Teens Held in Shooting of Toddler

Gang violence is a serious problem in many of America’s neighborhoods. When it happens, it touches the lives of everyone–victims, bystanders, witnesses and the perpetrators. In too many cases, the victims are innocent, as in the case of a recent incident involving a toddler.

A recent Chicago Tribune story reported that three gunmen opened fire at a suspected gang rival in a South Chicago neighborhood. Several people were in the vicinity, including children walking to school and a woman pushing her year-old niece in a stroller as she walked the family dog. A stray bullet struck the child in her head. At press time, she was listed in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery at a local hospital and was expected to survive. The aunt was not injured.

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested and held without bond. Both are being charged as an adult and face charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and attempted murder. The third gunman was still at large at press time. According to prosecutors, the suspects were gang members who were shooting at a man suspected of being a rival gang member as he rode his bicycle down the street. The bicyclist, who denied being a gang member, was hit but the bullet did not penetrate his body.

One of the suspects would have been starting his sophomore year in high school and was on probation. His accomplice would have been starting his junior year and has a pending juvenile robbery case.

The future does not look too bright for these two juvenile criminals. If they were going to be charged as juvenile’s, the maximum sentence they might receive is time in juvenile detention. Because they’re being charged as an adult, they are both facing serious jail time. A criminal defense attorney will make sure these defendants are treated properly and fair during the process, but the chances of a light or reduced sentence looks pretty grim for these two suspects.

Woman Arrested for Parental Kidnapping

A Holland, Michigan woman was recently arrested in Colorado after leaving Michigan with her children in July. A recent WSBT Fox 17 story reported that the woman was taken into custody in Colorado Springs and her two children, ages 10 and 11, returned to the father, whom has primary custody. The children were unharmed.

The children were staying with the suspect for the summer, per a court order, and were to be returned to their father on July 26 at the Holland Department of Public Safety building for a custody exchange. When she never arrived, officers launched an investigation, suspecting that she had left the state with the children. They were last seen at the suspect’s and her current husband’s house the evening of July 26.

Her current husband said that his wife never intended to hurt the children and was concerned for their safety in the hands of their father. Holland Police substantiated the husband’s statement by adding that the suspect had made several unsubstantiated allegations over the years. The children’s father told Fox 17 News that he would never physically or mentally harm his children. The suspect was arrested and released on bond and is awaiting an August 30 court appearance. She faces charges of two counts of custodial interference, commonly referred to as parental kidnapping.

The suspect in this scenario violated a custody court order when she failed to appear for the custody exchange and left the state with her children. In Colorado, she would face a Class 5 felony charge of violation of custody order or order relating to parental responsibilities. Had she left the country with the children, she would face Class 4 felony charges for the same offense. She would be looking at a possible maximum sentence of three years for the Class 5 charge; six years for the Class 4. A criminal defense attorney may be able to build a solid defense for her if she could prove that her actions were warranted and in the best interest of her children’s welfare, which does not appear to be possible in this case.

Mom Pleads for Her Daughter’s Return

A Colorado Springs mother is pleading for the return of her missing six-week-old baby girl. A recent KRDO story reported that her daughter’s father, an AWOL Fort Carson solder, kidnapped the baby.  Both have been missing for two weeks.

The state of Colorado has custody of the baby, but she was living with her father at the time of the kidnapping. The mother stated that a DHS caseworker called her and told her that during a wellness check at the place where the father and the baby was staying, they found a note on the door. The note, which the caseworker would not show to the mother, stated that the suspect had disappeared with the baby.

The mother expressed concern for her daughter’s safety, citing the suspect’s post-traumatic stress disorder. She said that the suspect had witnessed a child burning to death when he was stationed in either Iraq or Afghanistan and that a child’s screaming triggers his PTSD. She said she was afraid of what he might do to the baby.

The mother said she had problems with her baby’s father since her daughter was prematurely born on July 2. At one time he and his girlfriend locked the mother in their basement while she gave birth. After banging on the door and telling them to let her out, she dialed 911. She had delivered her baby on the floor and was let out of the basement by the time an ambulance arrived. She has three other children, ages 12, 9 and 4, respectively. She did not have custody of three of the children and had joint custody of her 4-year-old, who lives in Arizona.

She blamed the caseworker for her daughter’s disappearance, criticizing her decision to place the child with her father. A DHS spokeswoman refused to discuss the case, but did state that when a child is in state custody, he or she may be placed with the next of kin since family members are considered before placing a child in foster care. The spokeswoman further stated that safety plans are sometimes put in place to help a parent eventually get custody of their child.

The father in this case is facing second-degree kidnapping charges. He took an underage child away from her mother without her consent and without lawful authority. If the child is harmed, he would face first-degree kidnapping charges, which is punishable with life in prison or the death penalty. A Colorado criminal defense attorney would work on the defendant’s behalf for as light a sentence as possible, but with Colorado’s tough stance on kidnapping–especially when a child is involved–it will be a challenge.

Man Sets Fire to Kill Mother

A Minnesota man faces charges of attempted murder and arson after he set fire to a house as a mother and her children were inside, according to a recent Fox9 News story. Police responded to reports of a woman screaming for help and arrived on the scene to find the hysterical victim wearing only a shower curtain, stating that man who started the fire tried to kill her.

She told officers that she had put the suspect out of the house after an argument. She was in bed sleeping around 3 AM when a “cocktail” crashed through her bedroom window, setting her curtains afire. Seconds later another cocktail came through her window. She got her children and was heading out the front door when the suspect entered and told the children that their “mother was going to die today”. The victim ran back into the bedroom to call the police. The suspect followed her while spraying her with lighter fluid and unsuccessfully using a lighter to set her afire.

The suspect then blocked the front door to prevent the victim from getting out. He then threw her into the bathroom and doused her with pine cleaner. She screamed for help out the bathroom widow and rinsed herself in the shower. She escaped after a neighbor kicked in the door, grabbed the suspect and threw him down the stairs, and then got her out of the house.

The suspect fled the scene but was later apprehended. He told officers he hoped the victim was dead. He further stated that he had been trying to kill her for years and hoped he she learned a lesson. It wasn’t the first time he threatened the victim. In an earlier incident, a witness saw him threaten to burn her while squiring lighter fluid at her.

This suspect may be going to jail for a long time, no matter how good his criminal defense attorney is. Arson is Class 4 felony in Colorado. Combined with attempted murder charges and his previous history of domestic violence toward the woman, the best his defense attorney could hope for is that his client is well prepared for a long stay in prison.

Arson Suspect at Large

Authorities are currently on the hunt for a 56-year-old Littleton man suspected of attempting to burn down an apartment building in which he lived and is believed to have left the state of Colorado, according to the Littleton Independent. Police were looking for the man after a fire broke out at the apartment building in the early morning hours on August 13. According to Littleton police, the man was allegedly bitter about being evicted.

The fire reportedly started in the suspect’s ground-floor apartment. Traces of gasoline were found in the unit. Police are still investigating the possibility of forced entry. No injuries were reported, but two units were damaged in the fire. The suspects had made no threats prior to the fire, but he does have a criminal record. He previously faced DUI, disorderly conduct, aggravated battery and second degree assault charges, all of which occurred out of Colorado. He also has a parole violation on his record.

If the suspect is found and charged with arson, he will be facing serious charges. He would face a Class 4 felony conviction because there were reportedly people inside the complex when the fire was started, and he knowingly started the fire. He may also face additional charges for fleeing the scene of the crime and going on the run. His long list of previous criminal convictions would make it difficult for his criminal defense attorney to convince a judge to be lenient. If anything, the attorney would have to prepare his client for the possibility of a maximum sentence.

Football Players Facing Robbery Charges

CBS Sports.com recently reported that two college football players were arrested and charged with robbery. The players, who were teammates at a Denver high school, confronted their victim in Boulder in the early morning hours of August 5. Police believe one of the suspects punched the victim in the face before both suspects took his money and cell phone before fleeing. The suspects were later arrested and eventually released on bond.

One of the suspects was a former offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills. The other suspect was a sophomore quarterback for the Syracuse Orange. The former Buffalo Bill was suspended earlier this year for a vandalism arrest and was dismissed from the team soon after this his arrest. The arrest also leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the future of the Orange quarterback, who was being touted as the team’s “quarterback of the future”.

The crime the suspects committed in this case constitutes aggravated robbery because the victim in this case was allegedly struck during the incident. Aggravated robbery is defined as robbery committed while armed with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill or harm the victim if they resist, threatening a robbery victim with a deadly weapon during a robbery or striking or wounding a robbery victim during a robbery. Aggravated robbery is a Class 3 felony in Colorado. One of the men has a previous conviction for a similar offense, making his criminal defense attorney‘s job a bit more of a challenge. The other one may be able to get a reduced sentence if his criminal defense attorney presents a defense strong enough to induce a judge to rule in his favor.

Woman Pleads Guilty to Robbery Charges

A 21-year-old Greeley woman recently entered a guilty plea guilty for her role in a series of bank robberies that began in December 2010 and ended in January 2011. The Greeley Tribune reported that the woman pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery for a robbery of a Colorado credit union in January.

In a one-month period, the suspect and her 22-year-old boyfriend robbed a gas station, two cash advance establishments and two banks before robbing the credit union. Thanks to a GPS tracking device placed in money they took from the bank, the couple were tracked down after they robbed the credit union and arrested at an apartment complex. Police noticed money in their car that was partially stuffed beneath the driver’s seat.

The suspect told police that she and her boyfriend used the stolen money to buy heroin, pay bills, go to movies and buy expensive groceries. The suspect accepted a plea deal which dropped a slew of felony charges and included restitution and open sentencing. She could be sentenced to 4 to 16 years, which she could be placed on probation, in community corrections or in prison. Her boyfriend, also charged, is awaiting arraignment on multiple charges.

The criminal defense attorney defending the boyfriend in this case will probably try for a plea deal as well, but a plea deal may not result in a sentence lesser than what the girlfriend received. Had she participated all of the robberies and not just one, she would be facing a much longer sentence, plea deal or not. Aggravated robbery is committed when the robber is armed with a deadly weapon with the intent to harm or kill his victim is if they are uncooperative, a robber (or someone working with the robber) threatens a victim with a deadly weapon or a robber (or someone working with the robber) strikes or wounds a victim a deadly weapon during a robbery. Aggravated robbery is a Class 3 felony in Colorado.

Drunk Driver Sentenced to Prison for Manslaughter

A 20-year-old Texas man recently accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to 18 years for intoxication manslaughter and 10 years for intoxication assault in connection with an accident on January 29 that killed a 45-year-old mother and injured her teenage daughter, according to a recent  Lufkin Daily News story.

The victim, a mother of two and a teacher, was killed when the suspect drove through a red light and collided into her vehicle. Her teenage daughter, who was a passenger, was thrown from the vehicle. The suspect tried to flee the accident scene, but police caught up with him.

The families of both the suspect and the victim were in the courtroom when the judge handed down the sentence. The suspect hung his head and avoided eye contact with the families. The victim’s husband was allowed to make a victim’s impact statement to the suspect. He told the suspect that his wife did nothing wrong the night she was killed. He said his daughter repeatedly asks why her mother had to die become some man wanted to drink beer. He said his son wanted his mother, who was his biggest fan, to see him graduate from college, and that she is no longer here to see her children’s triumphs or heal their hurts. The husband told the suspect that he missed his wife and felt lost without her.

This is a heartbreaking tale of why drinking and driving rarely ends well. A family is left to go on without the loving wife and mother who held their family together. A mother will have to visit her son in prison for the next couple of decades of his young life. A young man will be behind bars at a time when his life is just beginning and the world is his oyster. There may not have been much the criminal defense attorney in this case could do to get his client a lighter sentence, because he committed manslaughter and DUI offenses, both of which have stiff penalties.