Online Death Threats

[VinnyM]

What is the name of your state? New Jersey

Hi, my name is Vinny (age 15 tomorrow ) I received death threats from a fellow student of mine. I wrote-up a report on him earlier this year and he was suspended for two days. The police have just been informed of this and the school knows too. I sent an email to the Principal and the Assistant Principal for my grade (9th), but I believe the assistant principal is on a vacation for the 4 day weekend due to some Teacher's Convention type of thing. The 10th grade Assistant Principal has been informed already. A police officer has already been to my house...

I have already filed an abuse report to Verizon Wireless DSL with a report of what happened, with the name, screenshots, his IP Address, and the time of the incident. I could easily link his IP Address to the threat.
http://img108.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img108&image=vmisgayprofilevisit.jpg
Here is the link to the threat..funny, he cant even spell my last name right:
http://img105.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img105&image=ThreatToKillMe.jpg

Its obvious he really hates me...
http://img107.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img107&image=domenick1.jpg
http://img123.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img123&image=domenick2.jpg

Well..I was wondering what would happen in this sort of case and any other information you can give me...I find threats to kill someone to be very serious, we are in High School..and he should have enough common sense to realize the seriousness of the incident...

Thank you,
- Vinny

 

[stealth2]

Hey! Y'all live in my town!

 

[VinnyM]

cool, u do?

also...could u help with the topic

 

[stealth2]

Unfortunately, I haven't a clue - sorry.

 

[okamsrazor]

Nothing you can do. The threat was pretty vauge and unless he makes some attempt to act on his threat, there is not a lot you can do. The school may take action but legally he is in the clear.

Why are you crying about him stealing you chips anyways? Like ol' Dom says...grow up.

 

[VinnyM]

...u actually believe what he wrote

 

[gryndor]

...u actually believe what he wrote

Why not? We believed what "u" wrote, didn't we?

 

[CdwJava]

Sorry Vinny, but I don't see that this is a crime unless he has taken some form of action to move forward with the threat or spoken to you directly.

- Carl

 

[VinnyM]

does wacking me with crutches before count?

gdi, screw it..

 

[CdwJava]

If he whacked you before the threats, then that was the crime of battery and is a seprate criminal act from the current threats. Usually, for threats to be criminal there has to be the present ability to carry out the threat PLUS the belief that the act WILL be carried out. Just writing that you want to kick someone's tailpipe or would like to meet them in a dark alley and plant them into a garbage can is not likely to be considered a threat that rises to a criminal level.

If you want to be certain, call the police and have them look at it. But, my guess is that this is not going to rise to any form of criminal threat. If it did, then we would have to double our police forces because this kind of crud happens all the time.

Now, if you can couple his threats with his driving past your house without any real reason, shining spotlights into your bedroom, etc., then you might have a case. But we don't have the resources to hunt down and PROVE every internet and chat threat posted on chat rooms and BBS or Blog systems.

Unless he starts to make the threats concrete (i.e. in person or writing) I doubt it will be looked at too seriously.

- carl

 

[VinnyM]

couldnt one argue that it could be conspiracy?

Why not? We believed what "u" wrote, didn't we?

because people dont get suspended from school for stealing food...they get suspended for wacking people with crutches and drinking pepsi and spitting it in some1's face

 

[CdwJava]

couldnt one argue that it could be conspiracy?

That requires two or more people to plan and take some action to further the conspiracy. This is (apparently) one person ... and, more than likely, not a crime.

because people dont get suspended from school for stealing food...they get suspended for wacking people with crutches and drinking pepsi and spitting it in some1's face

These can also be criminal acts if reported to the police. If not reported, then the police cannot act on them.

- Carl

 

[VinnyM]

i dont mean 2 sound stupid and/or annoying, plotting?

 

[CdwJava]

i dont mean 2 sound stupid and/or annoying, plotting?

It takes two people to commit a conspiracy. And the act that is being planned has to be criminal.

If I plan with my wife to take the kids to a ball game, we have not committed a criminal act of conspiracy. But, if we make plans to blow up the baseball firld and shop for the explosives, then we HAVE committed the crime.

One guy posting stuff on the internet cannot be conspiracy.

- Carl