Criminal Charges From Essay

Barbara Pytel, Paulline Larson Photography

Posted by
Barbara Pytel
May 25, 2007

The Essay

A teacher asked students to write a creative essay. "Be creative; there will be no judgment and no censorship." The 18-year-old student with a 4.2 grade point average took the teacher literally. However, the student's essay was filled with profanity and violence. In the days after Virginia Tech, it proved to be frightening and over the top. It was turned over to the principal who turned it over to police.

Charges

Lee is presently being tutored in an office awaiting his day in court. He is being charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct which could result in a $1,500 fine and up to 30 days in jail. [msnbc.msn.com, April 27, 2007]

Marines

Lee had enlisted in the Marine Corp but after the charges, the Marine Corp does not consider him a viable candidate to serve. If the charges are dropped, Lee is free to enlist again.

Not A Joke

In light of 32 students and instructors killed at Virginia Tech, Lee's essay is definitely in poor taste. But, was it criminal? This will be for the courts to decide but the V-T killer did have violent writing in his background.

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