Justin Carter, the Texas teenager who was jailed for months after making a sarcastic threat online, was freed Thursday after an anonymous supporter paid his $500,000 bond.
Carter’s lawyer, Don Flanary, received a call on Wednesday from a person who had read about Carter’s story, and wished to help. Later that night, the generous supporter paid Carter’s $500,000 bail bond, bringing an end to the teen’s six-month stint in jail.
The Carter family was thrilled to have Justin back, said Flanary.
“He’s glad he’s out. His family is ecstatic. He feels good. He is relieved. It’s been an ordeal,” said Flanary in a statement to NPR.
Carter’s troubles aren’t over, however. He still faces charges of making threats of a terrorist nature, which could land him eight years in prison if he is convicted.
Carter was arrested last February after a Canadian woman reported him to authorities. While playing the online, multiplayer game “League of Legends,” Carter got into an argument over the internet and threatened to kill school children. He followed up his remark with “just kidding,” indicating that it was not a serious threat.
But police, eager to avoid another Sandy Hook, took the threat seriously, and raided the Carter home.
Carter’s parents have maintained that their son didn’t follow news about school shootings, and though his comment was in poor taste, it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.
His bail amount — which Flanary described as unusually high — was set by a judge. Officials at the police station that held Carter were unable to explain to The Daily Caller News Foundation why the judge had determined a $500,000 bond was necessary.
Flanary thanked the donor for helping to reunite the Carter family, and promised that the money would be returned when the case was over.
“At the completion of the case, the court will return the money to us, and we’ll return it to the wonderful person who sent it,” he said.
Carter’s case is one of at least two ongoing legal matters involving teens who were jailed from making sarcastic threats online. Josh Pillault, who was held for eight months after comments he made while playing the online game “Runescape,” plead guilty last month, hoping for a lighter sentence.
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