Jun 21, 2008 2:20 pm US/Eastern
Student Faces Jail Time In Online Threat
UPPER MERION, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
One year ago, students were scattered in the parking lot of Upper Merion High School. Many feared for their lives after a former student, Thomas Musetti, threatened a Columbine Style attack via instant messages. He was spotted in the hallway minutes after authorities were alerted.
His messages read in part, "I will leave my mark here and everyone will know how I feel before I leave." And "The whole (expletive) town is dead and they don't even know it." He even claimed he would buy a gun.
Assistant District Attorney Tracey Potere says the threats were "terrifying in nature, and threatened to kill people."
Musetti was charged with two felony counts of making terroristic threats, and on misdemeanor count. He was only found guilty of the misdemeanor because there was no hard evidence that he intended to follow through.
His attorney Gary DiPippo said after Friday's hearing, "I'm happy for my client that he won't be saddled with a felony conviction for the rest of his life."
Musetti said he never imagined cyber chat would be taken so seriously.
Technology attorney Dorothy Bollinger hopes this case serves as a wake up call.
"There are all kinds of crimes and civil actions that can be brought because of electronic transmissions," said Bollinger. "Even though it's instant messages, it's the same as if it were writing or oral. It's still a possible threat."
She pointed out there are all types of federal and state laws that make certain types of cyber chat criminal.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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