thedrifter
05-23-07, 06:27 PM
Prosecutors drop charges against student author of violent essay
Associated Press
May 23, 2007, 1:31 PM CDT
WOODSTOCK, Ill. -- Prosecutors dropped charges Wednesday against a McHenry County high school senior who wrote a violent, profanity-laced creative writing essay that disturbed his teacher.
Allen Lee, 18, had been charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct after writing the essay, in which the Cary-Grove High School student described dreaming about shooting people and having sex with dead bodies.
Police were right to investigate but authorities have determined that Lee is not a threat to himself or others, said McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi.
"The police were obligated under these circumstances to do whatever legally possible they could to ensure the safety of Mr. Lee, the students and the school," Bianchi told reporters after the hearing.
Prosecutors also considered the wishes of Lee's teacher, who did not want the case to go forward, Bianchi said.
"As prosecutors we have to consider the wishes of the victim as well as the likely result of what can be gained if the case were to proceed," he said in a statement.
On the assignment, students were instructed to be creative and not censor themselves. Lee said his essay was a compilation of song lyrics, movie quotes and video game references.
The essay, written April 23, reads in part, "Blood, sex and booze. Drugs, drugs, drugs are fun. Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, s...t...a...b...puke. So I had this dream last night where I went into a building, pulled out two P90s and started shooting everyone, then had sex with the dead bodies. Well, not really, but it would be funny if I did."
Lee's attorney, Dane Loizzo, said his client would be "ecstatic" to hear that McHenry County Judge Robert Beaderstadt approved the prosecutors' request. Lee did not attend the hearing because he was taking a final exam, he said.
"It worked out well," Loizzo said. "I think that they (prosecutors) reached the conclusion that we reached long ago, that he's not a threat."
Lee also can try again to enlist in the Marine Corps, Loizzo said. The Marines discharged Lee from an enlistment contract last month after he was charged.
School officials never suspended Lee, who attended off-campus classes for about a week. He now is back with the rest of the students, Loizzo said.
"This is the final piece that had to drop into the puzzle," Loizzo said.
Bianchi said he hoped Lee has learned from the experience.
"The freedom of speech must be tempered with the wisdom of knowing that it should not be used to infringe on another person's liberties," Bianchi said
Ellie
Associated Press
May 23, 2007, 1:31 PM CDT
WOODSTOCK, Ill. -- Prosecutors dropped charges Wednesday against a McHenry County high school senior who wrote a violent, profanity-laced creative writing essay that disturbed his teacher.
Allen Lee, 18, had been charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct after writing the essay, in which the Cary-Grove High School student described dreaming about shooting people and having sex with dead bodies.
Police were right to investigate but authorities have determined that Lee is not a threat to himself or others, said McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi.
"The police were obligated under these circumstances to do whatever legally possible they could to ensure the safety of Mr. Lee, the students and the school," Bianchi told reporters after the hearing.
Prosecutors also considered the wishes of Lee's teacher, who did not want the case to go forward, Bianchi said.
"As prosecutors we have to consider the wishes of the victim as well as the likely result of what can be gained if the case were to proceed," he said in a statement.
On the assignment, students were instructed to be creative and not censor themselves. Lee said his essay was a compilation of song lyrics, movie quotes and video game references.
The essay, written April 23, reads in part, "Blood, sex and booze. Drugs, drugs, drugs are fun. Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, s...t...a...b...puke. So I had this dream last night where I went into a building, pulled out two P90s and started shooting everyone, then had sex with the dead bodies. Well, not really, but it would be funny if I did."
Lee's attorney, Dane Loizzo, said his client would be "ecstatic" to hear that McHenry County Judge Robert Beaderstadt approved the prosecutors' request. Lee did not attend the hearing because he was taking a final exam, he said.
"It worked out well," Loizzo said. "I think that they (prosecutors) reached the conclusion that we reached long ago, that he's not a threat."
Lee also can try again to enlist in the Marine Corps, Loizzo said. The Marines discharged Lee from an enlistment contract last month after he was charged.
School officials never suspended Lee, who attended off-campus classes for about a week. He now is back with the rest of the students, Loizzo said.
"This is the final piece that had to drop into the puzzle," Loizzo said.
Bianchi said he hoped Lee has learned from the experience.
"The freedom of speech must be tempered with the wisdom of knowing that it should not be used to infringe on another person's liberties," Bianchi said
Ellie