Crime & Safety

Former UMD Student Sentenced for Online Threats

Alexander Song was sentenced to three years supervised probation.

A former University of Maryland student who made an online threat to go on a campus shooting rampage was sentenced to three years of supervised probation in Prince George's County Circuit on Thursday, according to a news release from the county State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

Alexander Song, who was 19 when he made the threats in March, was charged with a misdemeanor of  disturbing the orderly conduct of activities, administration or classes. He pleaded guilty in August. Song made the threats in a chat room and on a user generated news website.

“We are pleased with the sentence handed down to Mr. Song today,” Alsobrooks said.

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If Song violates his probation, he would face the possibility of  serving the three-year prison sentence.  He is also not allowed to possess a firearm. Song remains banned from the University of Maryland campus.

While making threats via phone or email is illegal elsewhere, Maryland does not have a statute prohibiting threats communicated over the phone or Internet. Alsobrooks's office is drafting legislation that would change that.

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The General Assembly convenes again next January and Alsobrooks said she plans to work with legislators to get such a bill passed.

“This case and the case of Neil Prescott underscore the need for a communicating threats statute,” Alsobrooks said. “I want to ensure that we have the tools to treat these threats with the seriousness they warrant.”


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