Georgia college student behind bars for Tumblr post

http://thegrio.com/2013/08/14/georgia-college-student-behind-bars-for-tumblr-post/



EORGIA – A college student has been languishing in jail for six months after posting what he says was joke on his Tumblr page.

Caleb Clemmons, an undergraduate at Georgia Southern University, made the comments on a satirical blog he created.

The 20-year-old, a psychology major on a scholarship, often wrote on Tumblr under the nickname “irenigg”. On February 8, he posted [sic]: “hello. my name is irenigg and i plan on shooting up georgia southern. pass this around to see the affect it has. to see if i get arrested.”

Almost immediately police were informed by an anonymous tip and a mere three hours later they searched Clemmons’ apartment. They did not find a weapon or any plans for any kind of an attack.

Still, he was arrested on a $20,000 bond and charged with issuing terrorist threats via computer. For six months he has been held at Bulloch County Jail because the bond was too high for his family to pay.

“Caleb has stated multiple times throughout his Tumblr and Facebook that his blog was an experimental literary piece and an art project for a character named Ryan Lang he created,” says a Change.org online petition drawing attention to the case.

“He went out of his way entertain his followers and friends with uncanny jokes as well as complex philosophical ideas.”

The petition also alleges the student has been verbally and physically assaulted on several occasions in prison.

He is scheduled to appear on August 20 in a Bulloch County courtroom for a plea calendar date, during which defendants have an opportunity to change pleas or accept bargains, for the judge to either approve or decline. Otherwise, a trial date will be set.

“He has been charged with terrorist threats,” Jack Williamson, the public defender assigned to the case, told theGrio. “In Georgia that is a felony crime and he can face up to five years in prison.

“He has been indicted and arraigned. He has entered a plea of not guilty. In my 35 years of practicing law this is my first time of having a case of this nature.”

Clemmons’ mother, Andrea Morris, has posted her own personal message on the Change.org petition:

“Caleb may have chosen the wrong time to post a prank, his present punishment and possible fate is beyond my comprehension. Caleb was attending a great college and had a promising future, despite a few setbacks.

“We are losing too many young black males to imprisonment and violence. My son was attempting to do something with his life, by attending college. He needs another chance at making things right.

“He has served six months in the Bulloch County jail, with a 20,000 dollar bond. I have heard of some murderers with a lesser bond.

“Enough is enough. Caleb has a little sister, 7, who misses her big brother. She wants him home. It hurts to hear her talk about how she misses him and talk about what they used to do and how he is a “nice brother”. Please help us get my son, grandson, big brother and friend released and free of charges. “

Though, once again this case highlights the dangers and pitfalls of posting inappropriate or foolhardy postings on unfiltered social networking sites, which can have negative and unforeseen consequences.

“While there certainly are cases where law enforcement officials seem to take matters to the extreme, members of society [whether they be youth, students or celebrities] must be cognizant and held accountable of actions that potentially impede on the sanctity, safety and peace of mind of others,” says Los Angeles based Treavion Davenport, a crisis management and PR expert.

“We are in a climate that is rightfully intolerant of threats, or insensitive jokes or experiments; regardless of the intent. This was a tough lesson learnt by the student in this case.”

TheGrio reached out to Georgia Southern and Casey Jones, the university’s assistant director for marketing and communications, gave this official statement, “Georgia Southern University is unable to make any comments at this time.”

The petition, on Change.org, has so far garnered the support of nearly 4000 people.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Clemmons’ family pay for a lawyer has raised around $2,500 of its $5,000 target.

 

Another ridiculous example of overreach. Smh

 

Dumbass

 

Instead of solving the problem of gun-worship and an increasing alienated populace awash with guns, we have to limit freedom of speech to the point that the first amendment becomes a gray area.

And it makes sense. If you can't do A you're gonna have to do B. I don't blame the cops for arresting him. It makes sense because of the sad state of the society we live in, and the potential for carnage.

He shouldn't have been in jail for 6 months tho. The justice system should be nimble enough to release the guy if it's clear he's not a threat, presuming his blog reflects that.

On the other hand, he was begging for it so... sit for 6 months.

Problem is, first amendment is gonna get grayer and grayer as society gets more dysfunctional and more dangerous... Watch and see.

Wonder what would have happened if he instead had said that stuff in a rap song?

 

Kid was stupid.
After Va Tech most schools will kick students out who make terrorist threats against a university.

A football player at Wake Forest a couple years ago lost his scholarship and was expelled for posting a similar message on his FB.

It's too bad but whatever.

Why he thought this would be well-received by his school administration makes no sense.

 

Experiments? :mrgreen: hehehhe

..Soon enough you'll be able to add "dangerous opinions" and proselytizing.

 

I honestly believe some young adults don't understand how far reaching the Internet is. What he thought was funny at the time, had the potential to ruin his life (which is exactly what's happened). I understand the importance of taking these threats seriously, but the kid deserves to be released and allowed a chance at the future he was working towards. After the investigation turned up no evidence that he actually did intend to shoot up the school, and understanding the general feel of his blog, he should've been released IMO.

His moms message breaks my heart. Her son made a mistake, bottom line. Should his future be permenantly ruined because of that? No.

“Caleb was attending a great college and had a promising future, despite a few setbacks. We are losing too many young black males to imprisonment and violence. My son was attempting to do something with his life, by attending college. He needs another chance at making things right."

 

From all your posts raider, I get the feeling that you're a great mom.

:freehug:

:smt023

 

Thank you so much, that is so sweet of you to say! There's really no better compliment you can give to a mom!

You made my day love :smt058

P.S. I am a great mom!

 

That guy should had known that as a Black male more punishment will be heapped on him along with being kicked out of school.

 

Watch the film Untraceable with Diane Lane. The writers of the film wanted to show the dark side of the internet and how those who are curious can be an accomplice to murder. I do not like the name he went under. There are other ways to make a point without giving yourself away. And there is technology to do it. $20.00 and a little time, he could've altered his voice. But, in the online world, once you post something out there, it is there for good. It is too bad he didn't realize that in time.

 

It's been like 8 months since the Sandy Hook shooting and the kid decides to pull something like this and get off Scott free?

That is just something I would think everyone knows not to mess around with. I heard stories where kids would joke around like that, and then actually do it. Most parents also have zero tolerance when it comes to their children's safety.

It's pretty obvious he knew what he was getting into, he just didn't picture the consequences. Hopefully the judge will give him a second chance.