Man who threatened Obama sentenced (3 yrs)

[kpete]

Source: Clarion Ledger

A Wisconsin man was sentenced late today in federal court in Jackson to three years in prison for making a threat on the Internet to assassinate then-President-elect Barack Obama.

Steven Joseph Christopher, 42, faced a maximum five years in prison.

After a nearly daylong sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate imposed the sentence.

Christopher pleaded guilty in July after Wingate agreed with him that he was competent to stand trial, although the U.S. attorney's office said a psychologist determined Christopher was mentally incompetent.

Read more: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20091106/NEWS/9110...

[napi21]

1. Good. Anyone who threatens a POTUS should get more time

than that! As much as I detested Shrub, it would habe been wrong to threaten his life andanyone who did should have gotten a lot more than 3 years!

[jacko_be]

35. doesn't that seam a bit hard

I mean he didn't kill him
he didn't pulled out a gun/knife/something
he didn't even try to hit him
he didn't even touch him

and jesus, the world is gonna end in 2012, dude
he is ill, he needs a psy, not jail

I know it's wrong, but he just put it on the internet


if you kill somebody 3 years minimum alright
but not for just saying dumb shit;

[bc3000]

38. Before you say it seems hard, read what he wrote

He didn't just make an offhand comment:

http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/01/steven-joseph-c...

ok we have 6 days until my Presidential Assasination.
Yes, I have decided I will assasinate Barack Obama. It's really nothing personal about the man. He speaks well, has a loving although controlling wife and two cute daughters. But I know it's for the country's own good that I do this. And I'm not racist either, my family is a little, but isn't all Italian and european families? I mean how many times have you heard the word (racial slur) in the comforts of your home? I have a lot, and it really bothered me and I would confront them about it. No, it's not because I'm racist that I will kill Barack, it's because I can no longer allow the Jewish parasites to bully their way into making the American people submit to their evil ways. How many of you Obama supporters are now disappointed after some of his arm-twisted Jewish appointee decisions??? Make's you think he's not really in charge(which he isn't). No it's the same old, same old filthy (expletive) (racial slur) who are poisoning America, who have murdered thousands of innocent lives on 9-11-01, and are thinking that they are going to get away with it again.

and it goes on...

How could they NOT take that seriously?

[jacko_be]

40. they should take it seriously but

this is him speaking i just copy paste it

So, I'm stuck here in Mississippi, and I'll need bus fare or some way of getting to Washington. I don't own a gun, so maybe someone can give me one. And I'll need a leak in the secret service to get a close up shot, somewhere close to the podium, since I've never fired a gun, so I need to get an easy shot off. Wattdysay fellas? Any help?


he is poor, probably bittered, and out of his mind
and i know he should get punished, but taking 3 years of somebody life
for something he wrote on a site called alliensearth (wtf)
that is just to much,

no money : need bus fare
no training: since I've never fired a gun
and no brain :I'll need a leak in the secret service

[Blandocyte]

59. Wow. I feel so bad for ... hey, Papa John's has a carryout special

cool!

[peace13]

41. No. n/t

[Cha]

44. No, it doesn't "seem" harsh..I

actually thought he got off easy.

[jacko_be]

46. what effect will it have

3 years in jail @ how much a day (what is the prise to pay?)
and after 3 years, he's gonna be really pissed
and even stronger against the system

locking up people is not only expensive, but
after 3 years getting released it's hard to start up a
normal life again, if he even can,
hard to find a job, hard to find a house, ...
friends an family will have left you ...

[MadMaddie]

52. No! Compared to other countries, he is not getting whipped

nor is he getting hung in the public, that I would say is harsh.

There are laws in this great land of ours and it's time to start enforcing them when they are broken.

[jacko_be]

58. dude, he is a loser, he didn't even tried to kill somebody

he just talked about it, and in you're great land
you must know that people like MR obama (i like him a lot)
are loved and hated just like bush was

and this is not a huge crime comm on this is just a dumb guy
a strongly believe he is an idiot and that he does need help
but not jail ... be a bit reasonable

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

36. why would it have been wrong to threaten Shrubs life

he threatened yours.

[JonQ]

50. How much do you suppose this guy should get?

http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/10/gore-vidal...

[jacko_be]

51. a warning like: fight opinions not people,

weakly shrink,
and if you do it again, jail 3 months

[47of74]

2. It should've been the maximum

That might've convinced at least a few Freepers that the sort of "salty talk" that RimJob was complaining about earlier this year really isn't a good idea.

[Zoeisright]

3. That's all??

His sentence should be have 20-30 years, or more.

[depakid]

14. Yep- pack those prisons!

[Zoeisright]

48. What?

I hardly think that incarcerating someone who threatened assassination is 'packing the prisons'.

[Posteritatis]

49. Calling for a worse sentence than most murderers get is a little silly, though. (nt)

[Zoeisright]

53. No, it's not.

This jackass will get out of prison while the President is still in office. I very much doubt he's going to 'get any better' or change his mind while in prison.

[Posteritatis]

56. You think this warrants a harsher sentence than murder?

If Obama's term in office was a factor in your objection then you wouldn't be demanding thirty years.

[Life Long Dem]

4. That's what they call "your rights to a speedy trial".

[BlueJazz]

5. Geez...I don't know...if the Guy was mentally incompetent than...

...putting him in prison is ...ah...wrong.
I would have like to have seen him get some help.

[EFerrari]

19. You do know that American prisons are the front line of mental health care

in this country after your beat cop?

And I take it you support the Republicans' health plan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco

[1monster]

27. I agree. With a relative whose mental age is between 5 and 10 in jail right now

awaiting formal charges for something that took place twelve years ago (his mental age was adjudged at five years old then--he is autistic and completely non-violent) at which time law enforcement officers and the prosecutors all agreed that he was incompetent to even be charged, I'm outraged at the way those who demonstrably CAN NOT understand the consequences of their actions are treated.

Prison is not the place for those who with susceptible minds. It isn't as if we couldn't place them in group homes (at least the non-violent ones) where it is much cheaper to maintain them AND they can, with care, improve.

When so-called progressives in this country advocate long-term imprisonment for mentally incompetent people, I despair. There is no hope for the future.

[elocs]

29. Unfortunately you missed the point that #5 was trying to be cleverly sarcastic.

You, however, are correct. It is sad when so-called progressives advocate prison time for mentally incompetent people (if that is truly the case).

Had this happened a couple of years ago and the threat was against Bush and there was a question of the person's being mentally competent then people here would be lining up on his side.

[BlueJazz]

32. Sorry...you're wrong....My post expressed how I truly feel.

[elocs]

34. I apologize. It was the "geez" part that made it seem sarcastic to me. n/t

[BlueJazz]

37. Ah....no big deal..I DO forget sometimes to add the sacasm icon.

[elocs]

39. Sometimes the sarcasm thingie actually ruins it, but my level may be set too fine.

Sometimes obvious sarcasm goes right over peoples' heads, particularly the ones it is meant for.

[1monster]

57. I didn't miss the point. I agreed with number five. Reread my post.

[BlueJazz]

33. Yep.....overall..Our Society is mean, vindictive and woefully ignorant of..

...the best course of action when it comes to punishment or the ability to change an individuals thinking process.

[caseymoz]

6. Is it that a Bush-appointed judge wants him out before the election?

Three years? Maybe I'm just used to these overwhelmingly harsh sentences. Three years sounds really lenient compared to sentences I'm used to seeing.

If Christopher had threatened Bush, there was a chance he would have probably disappeared.

[starroute]

12. Funny you should ask

If you've been following any of Scott Horton's or Larisa Alexandrovna's coverage of the Paul Minor case, this will mean a lot. If not, at least follow the link and read it all. This is significant.

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2008/01/henry-wingat...

Let's return for a moment to the subject of U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate, who ramrodded the Paul Minor case in Mississippi.

Scott Horton, of Harper's, recently completed a two-part series on the Minor case, focusing on former Mississippi state judge Wes Teel (one of three defendants in the Minor case). Horton's searing account reveals to a national audience what we have shown to our Legal Schnauzer audience--that Judge Wingate butchered the Minor case in a way that almost had to be intentional.

Horton called some of Wingate's rulings "breathtaking" and "unconscionable." Given that three innocent men are in federal prison because of Wingate's actions, I would say Horton was being charitable. Terms such as "malicious," "despicable," "corrupt," and "wicked" might be a better fit. Give me time, and I will think of a few more adjectives.

But here is the point: Henry Wingate, because of his unlawful rulings in the Paul Minor case, has become a truly historic figure.

[druidity33]

47. I thought i recognized the name...

I've been a fan of the 'schnauzer' since i first heard of the Siegelman case. I haven't heard too much about Minor recently. I remember reading that his wife was sick (died?) and the judge wouldn't let him see her. Was that Wingate? If so, what a dick. I wonder why he hasn't been dealt with. And Minor is still in jail, no? Siegelman had his appeal denied? Sometimes, the sheer length of these trials makes them fade from memory, and that's kind of a shame.

[pnorman]

7. Silly joke lands victim in prison

Subject: Silly joke lands victim in prison

Parallels with Keith Henson (who didn't even make the "Ton Cruise Missiles" joke).


Burning Bush' comment draws prison term
Man plans to appeal
Friday, December 6, 2002 Posted: 2:59 PM EST (1959 GMT)

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota (AP) -- A man who made a remark about a "burning Bush" during the president's March 2001 trip to Sioux Falls was sentenced Friday to 37 months in prison.

Richard Humphreys of Portland, Oregon was convicted in September of threatening to kill or harm the president and said he plans to appeal. He has said the comment was a prophecy protected under his right to free speech.

Humphreys said he got into a barroom discussion in nearby Watertown with a truck driver. A bartender who overheard the conversation realized the president was to visit Sioux Falls the next day and told police Humphreys talked about a "burning Bush" and the possibility of someone pouring a flammable liquid on Bush and lighting it.

"I said God might speak to the world through a burning Bush," Humphreys testified during his trial. "I had said that before and I thought it was funny."

http://www.holysmoke.org/kh/kh582.htm

pnorman

[Bette Noir]

8. How long until Wingnut Radio starts complaining that his free speech rights have been abridged?

[Snazzy]

9. all the fun stuff in the 5th para

Christopher said he never intended to harm Obama. He said he made the threat to gain attention for his cause that he is the second coming of Christ and the apocalypse is coming in 2012 and much of the world will be destroyed.

---

Soon to be a History Chan special.

oooh, edit: just noticed that he has a full in-print middle name (indeed, actually three first names), being one Steven Joseph Christopher, which must elevate him to some special status.

edit 2: Authorities said Christopher made the threats Jan. 11 and 15 on the Web site . hxxp://wxw.alien-earth.org


Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/16/steven-joseph-...

(I obfuscated alien earth site)

[24601]

10. Wow, sucks to be him - looks like he'll spend the 2nd coming in jail. n/t

[Snazzy]

11. what if they hold a 2nd coming and nobody comes? n/t

[bjobotts]

16. If you were God couldn't you come up with a better plan than having your son murdered

[bjobotts]

17. just so your creations could find salvation. Absolutely brilliant plan huh.

[Divine Discontent]

22. yep! It's like a sifter, in many ways.

[bjobotts]

13. What idiot would unrec this report.. It's not even an opinion piece.

[bjobotts]

15. Sets a much needed example to this wingnut minority

[EFerrari]

18. Finally.

[Xithras]

20. He was determined to be mentally incompetent and they still convicted him?

We live in a sick, sick society.

The man thought he was Jesus freaking Christ. The only thing sicker than the judges logic is the fact that some here support the idea of locking mentally handicapped people away in prison.

[Divine Discontent]

23. that's an important fact for sure

surely we all would have wanted him to receive 10 years if he was a serious person who meant what he said, but I see your point, apparently they thought he was a risk to escape a mental instution? who knows, but your point is something people with compassion would surely get.

[indimuse]

21. good! n/t

[Turbineguy]

24. Lesson:

Don't watch Fox news.

[Cha]

45. Precisely~ Or listen to any of the

hateradio.

[pokercat999]

25. Keep this in mind:

As the economy gets worse and the depression gets wider and deeper this may be a way to safety. Three hots and a cot in a nice federal prison might just be the answer for some of us.

Seriously my question is did the victim, er, perp have the ability to carry out his threat?

[willing dwarf]

26. I visited a Federal Prison last week

and I have to say, the parts I saw weren't that bad -- the place wasn't real warm, but the the lighting was good, the facilities were clean, there was lots of food for the men to eat, and there were simple things like headphones for all television reception and multiple tv's to watch in the recreation room-- which made me see that a person could appreciate the warm bed and the food service in the Federal system. --It did look like a better option than the state pen, and for some folks I know, it would be an improvement in their living situation. -- The company is a bit rough though.

Above all, I think it's nice that this Mr. Christopher will get to experience his anticipated 2012 end of the world, safely behind bars. I would hate to see more of the messages he would have been trying to send to prepare us for his anticipated armageddon.

[slackmaster]

43. Federal prisons are generally much more comfortable and safer than state prisons

If you are going to commit a major crime, make it a federal offense.

[TankLV]

28. Good - but why only THREE years?!!!

And you smoke pot and get LIFE.

Nice...

[Hepburn]

30. So anyone know what his nick was on Freak Republic? n/t

[Unca Jim]

31. So...

He never actually *did* *anything*, admitted to the threats, but explained he never meant to carry them out. I assume they went through his life and found no plans, weapons, etc. and there weren't any witnesses to repudiate that.

This is his first offense, three years seems about right as far as the law.

Even though he's clearly mentally ill, he's no incompetent. He might get some help while he's in prison.


Personally, I'd be inclined to put him in minimum security and mandate treatment, but this *is* Mississippi's Justice System, and the Judge *was* Wingate so we better be happy he isn't being killed.

[slackmaster]

42. Sounds about right to me

That's the way to handle assholes like that.

[mstinamotorcity]

54. So he got three years

Oh well you do the crime you do the time. Let me tell you one thing any person seeking to assassinate any head of state gets what they rightfully desreve. I respect an individual's right to object to a certain policy or political belief or even to have the right to practice some things i consider a little absurd. But to actually want to take someone's life yo ass is mental to contemplate such a thing. We should not engage in sympathy for someone who deliebertly sets out to commit murder. I just thank all the things good that he was caught before he sent our country into a rage.

[Blandocyte]

55. Excellent.