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Crime

ESPN Commenter Held on $1 Million Bail After Allegedly Posting About Killing Kids

Sep. 19, 2012 11:01am Madeleine Morgenstern

ESPN Commenter Eric Yee Held on $1 Million Bail After Allegedly Posting About Killing Kids Like in the Aurora Shooting A 21-year-old California man was arrested Monday for allegedly making terrorist threats against children and referencing the Aurora, Colo. shooting on an ESPN blog.

Former Yale University student Eric Yee was ordered held on $1 million bail after allegedly posting that he was watching children and would not mind killing them, the Associated Press reported. Yee was taken into custody at his parents’ home in Santa Clarita, Calif., which overlooks an elementary school and a junior high school.

A release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not detail precisely what Lee allegedly wrote, saying only “an unknown person posted on a blog that they were watching kids and did not mind murdering them. The blogger mentioned that it would be like the Aurora, Colorado, shooting,” CNN reported. Twelve people were killed and 58 injured in the July shooting during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.”

ESPN, headquartered in Bristol, Conn., flagged the post and contacted local authorities, who traced the post to Southern California, WVIT-TV reported. A search of the residence turned up several firearms.

According to the AP, the reported threats were posted on a story about new $270 Nike sneakers named after Lebron James. Some of the nearly 3,000 comments discussed the possibility of children getting killed over the expensive shoes, ESPN spokesman Mike Solyts said.

“This person posted a few comments on ESPN.com last Thursday that were of the threatening nature, so we called our local police and they took it from there,” Soltys told CNN. “We aggressively monitor those boards looking for any kind of threats that come in.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Dubin told the Los Angeles Times the department had requested “a bail enhancement because of the totality of the situation,” but did not elaborate. Authorities told the Times there was no immediate indication that other suspects could be involved in the incident.

Dubin said Yee was expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office Wednesday.

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Comments (58)

MrKnowItAll
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 1:13pm
Carma for Hank!

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sierrahiker
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:54pm
We are going nuts!

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termyt
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:51pm
I’m glad they picked him up, but I hope somewhere in here is that fact that he hadn’t actually done anything, yet. He’s crying out for help and I hope we are serious about what he’s said. But I hope he gets help rather than just sits in jail for a time, which will help no one.

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JohnHW
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:15pm
If this “man” did not do anything to fulfill his “writings,” he did not break any law that would not be found unconstitutional. Things such as getting a guy, making plans on how he would do it, then actually starting to do those actions. When a person can strip in front of other people and not be found guilty because of “free speech,” then this guy’s writing, as stated in the article, is FREE SPEECH. Sounds like he will have a hugh lawsuit against the internet company and the “law enforcement”/government unit that threw him in jail. I would also try to bring a personal suit against the judge for exceeding the authority of his office – a judge is supposed to have a brain and use common sense and the law BEFORE putting someone in jail. Too many just rubber stamp whether the DA wants.

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- Sumrknght
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 3:33pm
  I think they’d be able to stuff that in with making “terroristic threats”. Patriot Act… Constitution is flushed.
  
  We have to call it “freedom”: who’d want to die for “a lesser tyranny”? ~Mignon McLaughlin
  
  Report this comment
- katzkiner
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 9:32am
  Constitutional rights died in Jan. 2012. Due process is a thing of the past. All in the name of.fighting Al Qaida though Al Qaida works for us in Libya and Syria. Makes sense?
  
  Report this comment
jackact
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:15pm
The kids probably disturbed the moron during a televised Sunday football game…. DUH.

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darski
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:57am
I am amazed that so-called conservatives approve of threats of killing children in the name of free speech. You need to go back and collect your brains that you left at the door when you came in.

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- johnjamison
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:06pm
  Mean while the NEW BLACK PANTHERS are calling for blacks the murder white babies,white women,and every ioda of a white man.
  http://www.wnd.com/2010/07/175817/
  And has never even seen a charge aginst them…… HYPOCRACY MUCH
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:12pm
  Amen John .. it’s not what you say .. it is who you say it about. Threats of any kind should be taken seriously.
  
  Report this comment
- john koenig
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:15pm
  Just where do you see approval? You leftist trolls studying the Alinsky method are too obvious.
  
  Report this comment
- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:20pm
  And The Democrats Abort Children Everyday.Not Threaten,but abort!
  
  Report this comment
- jackact
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:28pm
  We are not so-called.
  We are conservatives.
  And we out number you 20-1.
  Take note.
  
  Report this comment
- Capt_Gregg
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 1:26pm
  @JOHNJAMISON
  Excellent point! All such threats should be taken seriously. In the end, most are simply stupid ramblings, but due to the occasional real threat, they all deserve intense scrutiny. It’s better to error on the side of caution that to have a mass murder.
  
  In the case of the NBPP — their threats SHOULD be taken seriously by the proper authorities. It’s quite obvious that, under Obama and Holder, the DoJ is deliberately ignoring them. I would think that the NBPP’s proclamations would justify charges of inciting to riot.
  
  Report this comment
hawkguy
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:55am
This is why you should never use the internet for anything other than friendship and business. Yes This is trumped up and a trial case for an infringement on free speech. But if you don’t post your every thought on line they will not have the opportunity. Someone is going to poke you with a sharp stick. You have three choices. 1. Run away 2. Sit there ans let them poke you. 3. Take away the stick.

I think I will take #3

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darski
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:53am
He is perfectly free to threaten to murder children but he is not free from the consequences of doing so. How many of the whackjobs have posted the plans to murder and no one paid attention. Unless he can prove that he is sane – hard to do when you promise to kill little ones – he’s got some ‘splaining to do.

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JSnake
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:52am
At first glance, with my “morning eyes”, I thought the headline read “commentator”. Thought Keith O has finally gone too far.

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- 120pages
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 1:00pm
  I agree…very misleading headline.
  
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Gonzo
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:51am
I guess we won’t be hearing from Encinom for a while.

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boiz
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:51am
But nothing is done about Black Panthers…..

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- PeppermintCrush
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:13pm
  Agreed.. sad but true.
  
  Report this comment
Tori Prophett
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:49am
Knee-jerk paranoia and overreaction. Quislings to turn us all in for idle talk. I feel safer already. However, if Mr. Yee put his comments in context against an MSNBC-sanctioned target, say “the evil spoiled children of the running dog capitalists” to “make them feel the sense of loss of orphaned Palestinian/Iraqi/Afghan/Klingon children” he would be hailed as a thoughtful messenger of peace.

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Despiser25
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:45am
Big Bro is watching and you had better not say anything or the “collaborators” will tell the authorities and have you arrested for “possible crimes”. Yea, this isn’t Nazi/Commie like in any way. After all it’s for YOUR OWN SAFETY… Or so the Nazi’s always say…

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this1can
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:43am
Sounds like this crazy ass was just going to sit in his parents house and pick the kids off as they went in or out of the building. So what do you do with a nut like this. Is this one of the times that they use obummers new law and hold him as a terrorist indefinitely without trail. Love/pray

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Vickie Dhaene
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:34am
Set up story. Get us used to people watching and turning people in for what they type. Sounds like Censorship in the making. Until crimes has been committed it is only Free Speech!

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- Despiser25
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:48am
  Really makes me wonder who is on MY side. The right acts like the left half the time. Minority Report and people here are all YAY he deserves it… WTF is wrong with you people…
  
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Capt_Gregg
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:24am
The posts were apparently disturbing and warranted investigation, and a psych evaluation of Mr. Yee is in order. However, the article does not quote the posts, but only provides someone’s interpretation of them. The article says that the case is “…expected to be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office Wednesday.” There is no mention of just what charges he may face. He hasn’t yet been charged with anything, yet a one million dollar bail has been set?

Granted that the article was short on details, but it looks to me as if the authorities don’t have their ducks in a row.

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- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:48am
  Preliminary bail set to 1 million dollars is what should have been reported. they do this to keep mom from bailing there kids out before they can see a judge or to anyone for that matter not just kids.10% of bail is automatically set so usually the bond on 50,000 would be 5,000 dollars would be payed for bail to get him out which I think one of the parents must have followed them to the station for just that reason.Wake up a judge to set bail higher so there is no revolving door.
  
  Report this comment
- Capt_Gregg
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:22pm
  Seems like it would be reasonable to put a mandatory 72 or 96 hour (or whatever it is in California) psych hold on him while they sorted out the legal implications. No bond is allowed during that period — at least not in my state.
  
  Make no mistake, I’m NOT defending Mr. Yee, nor trying to make this a free speech issue. Publicly posting what he apparently did was incredibly stupid and cried out for an unpleasant visit by some very serious gentlemen. His post, as described, could be likened to shouting “FIRE!!!” in a crowded theatre. It just appears that, based on the information in the article, the authorities were a bit clumsy.
  
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- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 1:12pm
  Well most States have a automatic bond system with a list of expected bond cost for any given crime the 50.000 figure was from the article of expected bail.I’m not defend Vee either but a police department needs a doctor’s evaluation to hold anyone on a mental hold.another word the police took him strait to the station first instead of the hospital emergency room for an evaluation.police have enough power as it is.California I belive is like most states can hold you foe 36 hours with out charging you for anything.
  
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Chuck7884
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:24am
Another well to do kid from California,Disturbing at best.

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GlennaBeckski
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:21am
Thank Yee Thank Yee for being whacked out enough to share your deranged thoughts.

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Landon410
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:17am
the manger of the monderating company MZinga is named Steve Brock, but I can’t find his email address right now, must me on my other computer

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:21am
  Type his name into your search engine along with “Tea Party”
  
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- Landon410
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:25pm
  http://www.mzinga.com/company/executives.asp?pagen=21
  
  Report this comment
Indymaverick
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:12am
Former Yale University student? Evidently didn`t pass the common sense exam.

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- barber2
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:19am
  Am convinced that there is no connection between common sense and IQ.
  
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Landon410
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:12am
they do monitor the heck out of those boards and comment sections of articles, its no joke, i comment on articles there and youre posts get removed if they aren’t PC enough, or if they are about a competing sports company, or if they are anti obama….

the company that controls those boards is called MZinga, I’ve actually had to email the manager of the moderators acouple times because of issues.
They’ve blocked me before because my signin name is too close to a different sign in name and thought we were the same person

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mchubinsky28
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:12am
“Former Yale University student,” “21 year old,” “taken into custody at his parents’ home”

So this is what you get for a 6 figure liberal arts education at an Ivy League school! But by all means, lets keep spending taxpayer money to insure that more and more people go to college.

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Baja
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:12am
What makes this clown any different than any other pro choice progressive/ democrat?

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:17am
  BINGO! I was thinking, “Why don’t `the authorities’ take into custody those people in the administration and msm who are trying to kill us? Just a thought.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:41am
  Kick: Unfortunately, ” the authorities” ARE those people in the administration. How does Petraeus handle heading the CIA? Are career CIA different from the Marxists now in the Democrat Party ? Or is the CIA now a Marxist / Democrat organization ?
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:10am
Trolls beware…

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:23am
  Really. Where is VERCEOFREASON right now?
  
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- barber2
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:43am
  Probably polishing his portrait of George Wallace at the Obama campaign headquarters.
  
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- biohazard23
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:50am
  Verce is still waiting for the FBI to give him back his computer. Apparently, he had a run-in with Chris Hanson and they wanted to have a look at his recent browsing and download history…..
  
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starman70
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 11:09am
Thanks ESPN for your vigilance! These fruitcakes need to be stopped before they can act out their fantasies.

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