Threat Sentence Upheld

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A federal appeals court has upheld the six-year sentence given a man who pleaded guilty to making threats against a Mississippi school.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday, rejecting Joshua Brandon Pillault’s argument the sentence was too harsh. Prosecutors say Pillault made threats against Oxford High School in a chat room for an online medieval fantasy and role-playing strategy game called “Runescape.”

Another player reported the threats in 2012. Pillault pleaded guilty to one count of making threats in interstate and foreign commerce in 2013.

Prosecutors said Pillault had researched how to make bombs, the 1999 Columbine High School shooting and serial killers, according to court records.

Pillault argued there was no evidence that he intended to carry out the threat.

Categories: Crime, Local News

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