Police charged man with terroristic threatening
By Dylan Lovan
Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A lawyer for a Kentucky man who spent several days in jail after posting violent song lyrics on Facebook says he should be cleared of a felony charge.
James E. Evans was charged in late August with terroristic threatening and spent several days in jail. Evans had posted the lyrics from a song by the heavy metal band Exodus that included the words, "student bodies lying dead in the halls."
Bill Sharp, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, says the case is a free speech issue. The ACLU announced Wednesday that it is representing Evans.
"At this point, we're looking to have him completely exonerated," Sharp said.
Evans was charged by a law enforcement officer for the Muhlenberg County schools, about 100 miles west of Louisville. Evans lives in the county.
County officials did not return messages seeking comment on Wednesday.
The school officer, Mike Drake, told WFIE-TV in Evansville that several agencies received calls about Evans' post, and the arrest warrant said he was taken into custody because he threatened to kill students or school staff. It was not clear what school the warrant was referring to. A phone message left for Drake was not returned Wednesday.
The band Exodus released a statement last week expressing disappointment over Evans' arrest and jailing.
Evans was arrested and jailed on Aug. 26 and held on a $1,000 cash bond. He was released on Sept. 3, according to records at the Muhlenberg County Detention Center.
Evans is due in court for a hearing on Oct. 1.
Published: Fri, Sep 12, 2014
