Anonymous threats to local professor

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Anonymous threats to local professor

Submitted by Rick on Sun, 03/12/2006 - 10:36pm.

From daily dose of queer:

Patrick Chapman, a South Puget Sound Community College professor, has received two anonymous death threats in the last two years: a written threat in 2004 and a voice mail at his home in January (received a few days after The Olympian published a letter to the editor from Chapman about gay rights issues) in which the caller said, “Thinking of dying?” The voice mail was reported to the local police department.

Chapman's response, from the Olympian article:

“We’ve got to speak out against injustice,” Chapman said. “I’m not going to live in fear.”

Fear is all they've got. We don't have to play that.

Rick's blog
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The police in-action on this

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 10:45am.

The police in-action on this may also be because the comment is a veiled threat at best. I doubt it rises to the level of a chargable offense.

I think it most certainly is

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 11:15am.

I think it most certainly is a chargeable offense, threatening someone verbally is assault. I can't remember off hand which degree, but I'm sure of it.

Below is the law. I think the

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 12:15pm.

Below is the law. I think the message that was left, if we have all the info is vague. If the caller said, "I'm gonna kill you, I'm gonna beat your ass, etc." clearly that is a threat. It's less clear with what was said. If I say Rob R. I should kick your ass, is much different than my saying Rob R. I'm gonna kick your ass.

HARASSMENT RCW 9A.46.020 Definition — Penalties. (1) A person is guilty of harassment if: (a) Without lawful authority, the person knowingly threatens: (i) To cause bodily injury immediately or in the future to the person threatened or to any other person; or (ii) To cause physical damage to the property of a person other than the actor; or (iii) To subject the person threatened or any other person to physical confinement or restraint; or (iv) Maliciously to do any other act which is intended to substantially harm the person threatened or another with respect to his or her physical or mental health or safety; and (b) The person by words or conduct places the person threatened in reasonable fear that the threat will be carried out. "Words or conduct" includes, in addition to any other form of communication or conduct, the sending of an electronic communication. (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person who harasses another is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. (b) A person who harasses another is guilty of a class C felony if either of the following applies: (i) The person has previously been convicted in this or any other state of any crime of harassment, as defined in RCW 9A.46.060, of the same victim or members of the victim's family or household or any person specifically named in a no-contact or no-harassment order; or (ii) the person harasses another person under subsection (1)(a)(i) of this section by threatening to kill the person threatened or any other person. (3) The penalties provided in this section for harassment do not preclude the victim from seeking any other remedy otherwise available under law.

I see. Perhaps the caller wa

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 1:08pm.

I see. Perhaps the caller was aware of the law and knew how to get around it by using a question.

I think this part: (iv) Maliciously to do any other act which is intended to substantially harm the person threatened or another with respect to his or her physical or mental health or safety; might cover this kind of phone call, as there were no physical threats, but there was an intention to scare the prof., causing mental harm.

Thats a stretch,,,,but maybe,

Submitted by white feather on Mon, 03/13/2006 - 2:34pm.

Thats a stretch,,,,but maybe,but remember the fear has to be reasonable.

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