4 freshmen charged with bomb possession; face prison time, fines

ummm Eric Flatley went to Okemos with Darby, Sasha, and Olivia. Unless they got the wrong address and threw their explosive at some other Eric Flately that happens to go to MSU, then he is lying when he says he doesn’t know the suspects.

He may not have known who it was at the time, but let’s face it. Anyone who went to Okemos in recent years knows the Dudleys, and likely the others involved in this.

these kids won’t get more than a misdemeanor and serve probation. But hopefully they get a wake up call before they accidentally hurt someone.

They shouldn’t get anything. Police don’t enact arrests during 4th of July celebrations when half the population is lighting off illegal fireworks. No harm, no foul. MSP bomb squad? For fireworks? No wonder we have budget problems in Michigan.

Total overreaction. Kids being stupid. But in a NO TOLERANCE world they’ll be lucky if they aren’t charge with a terrorist plot to overthrow the government. Stop wasting our tax money on BS. Thank you very much.

While stupid, anything other than community service is a complete and total over reaction. There was no damage and they were the type of fireworks tons of people use on the 4th even though they’re not legal (since sparklers are essentially the only legal “firework” in MI). If they were throwing them at PEOPLE that’d be one thing or putting them in peoples mailboxes but they werent.

Shouldn’t the headline have read: “Four MSU students arrested for lighting a firecracker”?

20 years is a little harsh, but we are living in a post 9/11 world. Everything regarding bombs and explosives and what not is looked at as very serious. Hopefully they will learn that this behavior is not OK.

Hopefully this will just be a misdemeanor and they won’t have to have this hanging over their heads the rest of their lives.

I still recall about 5 years ago an MSU Football player was arrested under “explosives” charges because he made a ‘works bomb’. For those of you who dont know, essentially you use a 2 liter and the CO2 that fills it up over pressurizes it and it makes a loud pop. You could probably hold it in your hand when it did without injury but he got severe charges nontheless.

That is not justice.

They deserve to be taught a lesson. It sounds like they really need one from people who know them and this is an opportunity for them to change things for the better.

Give then 2000 hours of community service. Make them work and help the community. It will help them, teach them valuable life lessons, and not cost the city any money.

They are facing 20 years and $15k for having 3 pear sized mortars that only “give off a loud noise and white light?”

rage.

Regardless of the outcome, they most likely now have a record that will show up on full time job background checks. That becomes the payback. College degree with police record = no job.

If MSU will even allow them to still go here! Don’t students get kicked out for stuff like that?

and Rich- once again, post 9/11 world. Yes, it may seem a little over the top, but the government is taking anything like this really serious. Don’t shoot the messengers for following through on the laws that are in effect. You do the crime, you need to be prepared to pay the time.

Eric Flatley dated Darby so I would say they definitely know each other. They probably thought it would be really funny to throw a bomb in his yard to freak him out and now they’re facing felony charges. Come on ELPD. You’re cracking down on fireworks? How about you tell the cata busses to stop running into students, something that is actually harmful.

One go punch a random ELPD officer in the face right now, and be subject to lesser charges than these kids.

One go sell drugs to an undercover cop, and be subject to less.

One go get a random girl really drunk, and rape her after she passes out, and be subject to less.

Hell, in some states, one could molest a CHILD and be subject to less.

Hmmmmm… So who still thinks these charges make sense? RAGE.

One could*
No idea what happened there
Brain fail

I’m confused as to why the students were charged under possession of a “bomb” when there’s laws that specifically address possession of fireworks including $10 mortars (a misdemeanor charge max).

What’s next, a student being charged with a life in prison felony terroristic plot for stockpiling “hundreds of bombs” (a pack of bottle rockets).

COME ON!

Now you know what tyranny looks like. Using laws to oppress others for infractions that are basically harmless but the state applies them to send a “message.” The real message is FEAR us.

I know 3 out of the 4 involved and this is just CRAZY! They are all VERY good kids/students and the ELPD needs to calm down! I hope this works out for them…if not, the community NEEDS to get involved!

Any chance these kids are being connected to the explosions in EL this summer? Those were a little more serious, involving some property damage etc.

chill out, just because they face “up to” 20 years and $15,000 doesn’t mean they’re going to. That’s just the maximum time possible under law (i.e. repeat offenders, property damage, etc). I doubt these students are even as worried as some of you posters are!

The thing that stand out about this article to me is the comment about the girl who texted her roommate before going to check what happened.

I can’t even begin to describe how much people who text message constantly and in situations where a phone call or just getting off your butt and walking into the next room would serve so much better

A ‘bomb’ goes off and she takes the time to text message the girl in the room next to her, instead of running to see if she was ok and check out what happened.

I do not think anyone needs to “chill out.” Even if they do not receive harsh charges, their names are still tarnished from being displayed to the public. I KNOW they are worried.

Okay I do think that it’s harsh for them to get 20 years/15,000 in fines. But at the same time, these are the kind are the kind of girls have had things handed to them on a silver spoon, and it’s about time they see real consequences. It’s about time that they know that they can’t always get everything they want. Thank God for justice!

A lot of people here seem to be pointing all their fingers at Darby but I don’t think she should be the only one who is conidered “wild.” I know many things about the 3 Okemos girls, considering we were in the same group of friends, and none of these girls are shocking me by their actions.

Side note – Someone said that ’09 was the worst class… WHAT? I thought we were pretty tight.

Some people need to think though. Would they be saying such harsh things if it were other people involved? Not just the “rich” or “white girls.” Try to be fair, people.

Girls, you did something on impulse and you weren’t expecting punishment for it. Hell, i wouldn’t expect so much for that either. I hope this doesn’t fuck up everything in your future but I *do hope that you learn from this and thought and that justice will be served.

(Sorry about the novel).

I know for sure that Eric and Darby know eachother. They went to Okemos together and there used to be pictures on facebook of them together. I’m pretty certain that he’s just covering up for them because Darby especially gets out of any crap she pulls, always. It’s about time that she learn that Daddy can’t always get you out of things. At some point you need to become an adult and take the consequences that come from your actions. Who knows what will be next if she gets away with this. I’m sure that they won’t get 20 years. But I know a fine won’t be anything to them. These girls really deserve some jail time. It’s about time they have a real wake up call.

For anyone who read the comment by Again, DO NOT try to hold one of those in your hand, it will end badly for you.