# Kid charged with terroristic threats for writing a zombie story. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 5, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104 "2005-03-05T17:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/1 "2005-03-05T17:59:20Z")
[A high school kid in Kentucky](http://www.lex18.com/global/story.asp?s=2989614&Client) has been arrested and is currently in jail awaiting felony charges for making terroristic threats against his high school. what was the threat? He wrote a short story about zombies taking over a high school…a _fictional_ high school, not his own, and none of the characters in his story were real people. > [@](#): > > Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class. > > “My story is based on fiction,” said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. “It’s a fake story. I made it up. I’ve been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.” > > Even so, police say the nature of the story makes it a felony. “Anytime you make any threat or possess matter involving a school or function it’s a felony in the state of Kentucky,” said Winchester Police detective Steven Caudill. > > Poole disputes that he was threatening anyone. > > “It didn’t mention nobody who lives in Clark County, didn’t mention (George Rogers Clark High School), didn’t mention no principal or cops, nothing,” It gets even more stupid: > [@](#): > > On Thursday, a judge raised Poole’s bond from one to five thousand dollars after prosecutors requested it, citing the seriousness of the charge. The seriousness of the charge? The seriousness of the charge? What the fuck? I don’t even know what to say or who to pit first. How about grandparents who called the cops on their own grandson for writing a zombie story? Are they fucking mental? Are they senile? What’s going on there? The cops are even worse than the grandparents for actually arresting the kid for this BULLSHIT! Do they all get lobotomized when they join the Winchester PD? They never saw a zombie story before? Are they fucking stupid or something? The prosecutors who actually had the balls to ask the judge to raise the bond because of the “seriousness” of the charges are even worse than the cops and the fucking asswipe judge who granted their request is even worse than they are. I hope nobody here has ever written a zombie story because if you have, you’re a terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/2 "2005-03-05T18:05:09Z")
All together now class [zombie look] Zero tolerence good, individuality bad. Zero tolerence good, individuality bad. Zero tolerence good, individuality bad. [/zombie look] If I was in High School these days I’d never make it past the first week without being executed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/3 "2005-03-05T18:07:49Z")
My mind is well and truly boggled. I used to live in Kentucky, I don’t seem to remember that the first amendment doesn’t apply there. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/4 "2005-03-05T18:18:59Z")
When I was in like 7th grade I used to draw pictures with one of my friends in a boring English class. I had some (limited) ability to draw caricatures so we would pick out a teacher or a student we didn’t like and draw a picture of him/her, then we would pass the picture back and forth and take turns drawing violent things happening to the person, like bullets, bombs, flamethrowers, arrows, whatever. It was just a way for us to pass the time in a dull class in our thuggish, 12 year-old boy sort of way. We got caught once and the teacher just balled up the drawing and threw it in the trash. We’d probably get arrested for it now. I also use to try to write horror stories and sometimes those stories would involve kids and schools because I was a kid in school. That’s what I knew. I even wrote these stories for classes and got good grades for them. Now I would probably get arrested for them. Whatever happened to common sense? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/5 "2005-03-05T18:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > . . . over ran by zombies. > [@](#): > > It didn’t mention nobody who lives in Clark County, didn’t mention (George Rogers Clark High School), didn’t mention no principal or cops . . . The stupidity of the actions of the adults in this situation speaks for itself, so I’ll just take the cheap grammar potshot and say that I’m sure his short story is a sterling contribution to the body of English literature. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/6 "2005-03-05T18:25:52Z")
Clearly, the adults are zombies. The kid stumbled onto their master plan. What :wally es. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/7 "2005-03-05T18:37:49Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > The stupidity of the actions of the adults in this situation speaks for itself, so I’ll just take the cheap grammar potshot and say that I’m sure his short story is a sterling contribution to the body of English literature. Well, to be fair, apparently reading isn’t much of a skill in Kentucky. They seem to be having problems correctly parsing “no law”, so perhaps he is merely reflecting some weird native dialect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/8 "2005-03-05T18:40:50Z")
Kentucky doesn’t have to worry about a zombie attack. The poor things would starve to (2nd) death. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/9 "2005-03-05T18:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > **Amendment I** > > Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Clearly, the First Amendment’s recognition of the Right to Free Speech is intended to apply only to the ability of the people to petition the government for redress of grievances. Back when the Amendment was written, nobody even _knew_ such a thing as zombies might exist; much less that they would become so popular in fiction. There is no way that they could have intended that zombies would be written about. Since zombie literature did not exist at the time the Amendment was written, there is no reason to believe it is protected now. Besides, the First Amendment only applies to the federal government. The States can do as they please to reasonably ensure the safety of the Public. Did this guy really _need_ to write a story about zombies? No! He could have written a story about his puppy, or about a pleasant spot at the lake. Zombies? Nobody has any business writing about zombies! Zombie stories are dangerous. Someone might read them and be inspired to emulate them and go around killing and eating people. They can damage the psyches of impressionable young children. I think there should be a law banning all zombie stories, whether in print or on film or video, and that they should be confiscated. Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it before. ‘When zombie stories are outlawed, only outlaws will write zombie stories.’ And: ‘Outlawing zombie stories won’t do any good, because people will get them anyway. Heck, I can _make_ a zombie story in my basement!’ Bullshit. Nobody _needs_ zombie stories! And don’t start with the ‘slippery slope’ arguement! Nobody is calling for the banning of Free Speech for legitimate purposes! People will still be able to write stories about things that are good for society. Like war stories. The sooner all of the zombie stories are banned, the sooner this country will become more civilised! [sub]Note to the humour impared: I’m joking.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/10 "2005-03-05T18:53:14Z")
The grandparents better hope nothing happens to their other descendants, because if the eventual choice of their nursing home settles on zomibe-boy… watch out. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/11 "2005-03-05T19:10:19Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [sub]Note to the humour impared: I’m joking.[/sub] You pinko-loving anticonstructionist _BASTARD_. Ah challenge yew to a duel! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/12 "2005-03-05T19:10:47Z")
> [@bashere](#): > > Well, to be fair, apparently reading isn’t much of a skill in Kentucky. They seem to be having problems correctly parsing “no law”, so perhaps he is merely reflecting some weird native dialect. Yeah, but the new motto is “Education First!” And they beleive it. No, really! I saw it on numerous Welcome signs to the state along the Interstates. Maybe they’re just ahead of the curve. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/13 "2005-03-05T19:14:15Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > You pinko-loving anticonstructionist _BASTARD_. Ah challenge yew to a duel! To Zell with you, sir! To Zell with you! 😛 [sub]What’s that line from _Dawn of the Dead_? ‘When there’s no more room in Zell, the dead will walk the Earth.’[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/14 "2005-03-05T19:19:05Z")
That’s just crazy! ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/15 "2005-03-05T19:30:51Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [sub]What’s that line from _Dawn of the Dead_? ‘When there’s no more room in Zell, the dead will walk the Earth.’[/sub] Or maybe just Georgia. 😃 Anyhoo…that’s it: I’m sending my kids to private school. This is fucking ridiculous. With all the coat checks, sobriety tests, pledges, moments of silence, and censorship, it’s a wonder our public schools find any time to teach whilst indoctrinating our kids into the time-honored tradition of American Paranoia. If they’re not being made to “duck and cover” or sup the Jesus Juice from the Christian Right’s Challice of Creationist Wisdom, they’re worrying about being branded members of Osama’s Army. Fuck the whole thing. Bush can have his goddamn vouchers, and then they can establish their very own zombielessly-pure Freedom Ghetto and brainwash their spawn any way they like. I want out. I cringe at the thougt of having my kids educated in this environment. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/16 "2005-03-05T19:32:25Z")
to paraphrase Bill Hicks “We got ourselves a writer!” ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/17 "2005-03-05T19:33:02Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Whatever happened to common sense? > [@](#): > > “…over ran by zombies.” The asshats who can only parrot things like “think of the children” are to blame. I can see how things may need to be different after the Columbine masacre but zero tolerance is not a subtitute for proper action. Braiiiins. We don’t have Braiiiiins. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/18 "2005-03-05T19:36:53Z")
Johnnie, I sure am glad that you put in that disclaimer. I was afraid that Antonin Scalia had commandeered your 'puter. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/19 "2005-03-05T19:37:48Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Challice of Creationist Wisdom Look what it did to my spelling!!! Though I think I have seen it spelled that way… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104/20 "2005-03-05T19:57:20Z")
There may be [more to it](http://www.winchestersun.com/articles/2005/02/24/local_news/news01.txt) > [@](#): > > William Poole, 18, of 426 E. Broadway, was arrested at GRCHS Tuesday. Acting on a tip from a family member, police reported that he was attempting to “recruit a gang to take over the school,” according to Detective Berl Perdue. > > The threat involved the use of weapons, according to Purdue. “He didn’t have a gang, but he was attempting to organize one,” he said. Purdue added that no threat was made against a specific individual. > > \ > Police recovered writings in which Poole allegedly attempted to convince other students to participate in an armed takeover. He was being held this morning at the Clark County Detention Center. During a hearing in Clark District Court this morning, Poole’s bond was increased from a $1,000 to a $5,000 cash bond based on a prosecution motion. [Also this](http://www.splc.org/newsflash.asp?id=973&year=): > [@](#): > > KENTUCKY – A high school junior was arrested, jailed and charged with a felony Feb. 22 for making terrorist threats in writings found at his home, Winchester County police said. > > George Rogers Clark High School student William Poole, 18, was arrested and detained after his grandparents found materials he authored and called police, said Clark High principal John Atkins. > > According to a Web report from a TV station in Lexington, Poole said the material his grandparents found was a short story meant for his English class. > > “My story is based on fiction,” Poole told [Lex18.com](http://Lex18.com). “It’s a fake story. I made it up. I’ve been working on one of my short stories, [and] the story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school overran by zombies.” > > Atkins disputed Poole’s account. > > “The boy’s version was that he was writing a story about zombies and it was for a portfolio entry that was going to be turned in at school,” Atkins said. “The teachers aren’t aware of any kind of project like that. The word ‘zombies’ was not mentioned in the writings.” > > Atkins said investigators and school officials were concerned because they perceived “a direct threat” to Clark High School in the writings, although the school was never mentioned. > > “It did not mention [Clark High School or school officials] specifically but it did mention ‘the high school,’ and how many teachers were there and how long it would take the police to arrive once they received an emergency call,” Atkins said. “It implied very strongly that it was referring to this school.” > > Atkins said law enforcement agents showed him the writings, which resembled “notes and a plan. … It sounded to be kind of an advertisement or recruiting to meet a goal, and a goal was stated which was very negative about the school.” Sounds like maybe the first story was getting spun by the kid and this may not be as egregious as it seems. I will now uncharacteristically back away from my initial rant and wait for the facts. If the kid was really trying to organize an armed invasion of the school then the arrest, of course, was entirely warranted. I will actually be a little relieved if that turns out to be the case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-charged-with-terroristic-threats-for-writing-a-zombie-story/293104.md?page=2)