Prosecutor says S.C. student to face WMD charge

[Mugu]

By SEANNA ADCOX, Associated Press Writer via Yahoo

CHESTERFIELD, S.C. - An 18-year-old accused of planning to bomb his high school will be charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a possible life sentence, the top federal prosecutor in South Carolina said Tuesday.

Ryan Schallenberger also will face two lesser federal charges stemming from what authorities say was a scheme to detonate explosives in a suicide attack on his high school in the small town of Chesterfield. The straight-A student will be charged in federal court in Florence on Tuesday afternoon, said Kevin McDonald, the acting U.S. attorney for South Carolina.

McDonald said the federal charge comes into play mostly because Schallenberger ordered materials that can be used for bombs through the mail. William Spencer, the teen's court-appointed attorney, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Schallenberger was arrested on state charges Saturday. Authorities say his parents called police because he had ordered 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate, which they retrieved after getting a delivery notice from the postal service. Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer that was a component in the deadly 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080422/ap_on_re_us/school_attack_plot;_ylt=ApVcy7SA9hZyvG0PtnIZ9ZhH2ocA">Complete article

[napi21]

1. I really hate to see an18 year old spend the rest of his life in prison,

and I also don't know just how much damage 10# of amonium nitrate could do, BUT I also don't wanat to see anyone else try to do the damage that was done in Columbine or the College in Va.

[VP505]

2. Sounds like all that

fear mongering we have been subjected to the last 7 years has accomplished at least one of their goals. Now an explosive device is a WMD and deserves a LIFE sentence, WTF is wrong with that picture?

[Clear Blue Sky]

4. Where's the proportion?

In some states, you have to steal a car at least 5 times before you might get jail time.

This kid should be punished, but for life??

[Selatius]

3. Weapons of Mass Destruction are, I would think, biological, chemical, or nuclear munitions.

A fertilizer bomb, at least in international parlance, is not a weapon of mass destruction anymore than a 500lb. bomb dropped on civilians from 30,000 feet.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Poor kid.

18 years old and already a victim of GOP Parrots Disease.

He needs a FOX-ectomy stat!

All kidding aside, perhaps a little psychiatric evaluation is in order?

[theboss]

6. Was there an actual bomb?

If there was, this might hold some credence.

Anytime the feds get too into this "attempt" game, I get concerned.

[Vincardog]

7. What can't be used to make a bomb? A wire? A battery? A clock? Chicken Shit?

[cynatnite]

8. They had reason to take this very seriously

From the same article:

Authorities have said Schallenberger could have assembled deadly bombs within minutes with the materials they found. Police said they also discovered bombing plans including a hand-drawn map of the school, a hate-filled journal lauding the Columbine killers and an audiotape that authorities say was to have been played after Schallenberger died.

Schallenberger has been charged by the state with making a bomb threat, and county prosecutor Jay Hodge planned Tuesday to charge him with possession of bomb-making materials.

[Vincardog]

11. I do not disagree that the kid needs to be taken care of. BUT the charge

"possession of bomb-making material" would outlaw cell phones and alarm clocks.

[Quantess]

9. The guy is clearly dangerous.

If anyone should be locked up for life, I think he should.

[cynatnite]

10. I don't think he should be locked up for life...

Locked up for a time until he's no longer a danger to society...yes. It's obvious this young man has issues that need dealt with. I hope he gets the help he desperately needs.