War vet with no legs charged with plot to kill the God Hates Fag protesters
253 replies, posted
[quote]In a Wichita case that has captured national attention, a double-amputee war veteran already accused of misdemeanors against a controversial Topeka church now faces a felony charge.
[B]The latest charge — conspiracy to commit aggravated battery — was filed by Sedgwick County prosecutors Friday afternoon. The charge accuses Army veteran Ryan Newell of engaging in a conspiracy in which firearms were obtained and put in his vehicle and taken to a place where church members were located.
Mid-morning Tuesday, detectives arrested Newell. He was backed into a parking spot outside Wichita City Hall with guns and ammunition in his SUV while five Westboro church members met inside with Wichita police officials to discuss protest-safety concerns, sources have said.[/B]
The felony charge alleges that there was a conspiracy in which Newell entered into an agreement with another person.
Newell's bond remains at $500,000. His next court appearance is set for Dec. 16.
Judge Ben Burgess said at a hearing Friday that if Newell were to post the bond, there would be a hearing to consider additional conditions for his release. One condition already set is that he have no contact with Westboro members.
The Eagle on Friday received calls from New Hampshire to Nevada from people wanting to give money to Newell's legal defense or bond.
Kim Parker, the chief deputy district attorney in Sedgwick County, noted that the case has received wide attention and "that the public's sympathies may weigh heavy."
Still, Parker said, "We decide cases based on the facts and the law. We don't decide cases based on whether we like or dislike the victim or the suspect."
Meanwhile, two people — the lawyer for Newell and a spokeswoman for Westboro — say Newell is the subject of other investigations.
Newell, 26, of Marion, has remained in the Sedgwick County Jail since Tuesday evening.
"It's obvious that Mr. Newell has a great outpouring of support, some of whom share our client's view of supporting our country," said lawyer Boyd McPherson, who along with fellow Wichita lawyer Steve Joseph is representing Newell.
"He's not interested in publicity," McPherson said of Newell. "He appreciates all the support that's being offered."
Westboro and its members have been widely condemned for protesting at soldiers' funerals nationwide. Westboro contends that soldiers are dying because God is punishing the nation for immorality.
Margie Phelps is one of the five Westboro members who protested Tuesday outside Mulvane High School and then rode in a van to Wichita City Hall, where detectives arrested Newell.
Westboro members have picketed at almost 600 soldiers' funerals in the last 5 1/2 years, Phelps said. The protests generally have taken place a half-mile to a mile from funeral locations, she said. The protesters from Westboro leave when the funerals start, she said.
At nearly all of the protests, veterans on motorcycles and their supporters have been present, she said. "They track us down and try to shut us up and do harm to us," said Phelps, 54.
"Those guys aren't going to shut us up," she said. "That can be written in stone."
[B]
On Thursday, prosecutors charged Newell with stalking, three counts of criminal use of weapons and one count of false impersonation of a law enforcement officer.
The stalking charge accuses Newell of actions targeted at Westboro members and putting them in fear for their safety. Sedgwick County sheriff's detectives arrested Newell after a sheriff's detective saw him following a Westboro van to City Hall, officials said.
The weapons charges accuse Newell of unlawfully carrying and concealing or possessing with "intent to use" an M4 rifle, .45-caliber Glock handgun and .38-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Besides the weapons, Newell also had more than 90 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle, sources said.
An M4 rifle is a high-powered weapon used in combat; there are variations of the rifle, according to websites.[/B]
Westboro spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper said earlier Friday: "Here is what I expect to happen: This guy is going to be called a hero, he may get a parade."
People "will line up to sing his praises, to pay his legal fees and to get him a lawyer," she said. "Then he will be permitted to plead to some nothing charges."
Phelps-Roper also said, "We've had communication about a federal investigation" involving Newell. "And I don't think I ought to say any more about that."
FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton said she could neither confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
The Eagle has previously reported that agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives went to Newell's home and obtained items including firearms.
McPherson, Newell's lawyer, said, "I'm hearing that there are other investigations that are pending." He declined to elaborate.
McPherson said he is working to make sure that Newell's medical needs are met while he is in jail. McPherson said he thinks Newell has been placed in the jail clinic because of medications associated with his war injuries.
Newell lost his legs in 2008 when an improvised bomb exploded in Afghanistan. Some of his fellow soldiers died in the explosion.
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Read more: [url]http://www.kansas.com/2010/12/04/1617714/vet-now-faces-felony-conspiracy.html#ixzz17PTHIHy7[/url]
Video about Newell:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3USqDOhUmo[/media]
No way he had a M4. Probably an AR-15 or something.
So... close...
#1 American Hero
[QUOTE=FHamster;26541666]No way he had a M4. Probably an AR-15 or something.[/QUOTE]
M4s are legal with the right license, and the right license is pretty easy to get when you've been honorably discharged
This guy deserves a fucking medal, not a criminal charge. Well conspiracy to commit a crime is still a crime, so nothing you can do.
anyone who is willing to put their own life in jeopardy in order to serve their country is a hero in my books, even if they're fighting for the wrong reasons, or the wrong side
it's pretty crazy to do something like this. I hate these people with every fiber of my being but a civil society should not hurt or silence people with unpopular ideals.
there /thread
Newell, huh?
[quote][B]The stalking charge accuses Newell of actions targeted at Westboro members and putting them in fear for their safety.[/B][/quote]Good.
What a surprise, this thread is filled with "Good for him" and "He's a hero" comments.
You're so predictably infantile, Facepunch.
God damn it. This man would have gone down in history as a hero in my books, and I'm sure in thousands of other internet goer's as a fucking hero.
[QUOTE=Pandamobile;26542126]God damn it. This man would have gone down in history as a hero in my books, and I'm sure in thousands of other internet goer's as a fucking hero.[/QUOTE]
That's because the internet is apparently filled with man-children who think it's an awesome idea to kill someone they find offensive.
e: How bout you guys make a case for murder rather than just rating me dumb?
de: It also makes it worse that this guy is a vet, not better. He's the one out there fighting for the rights enshrined in the constitution, yet sees this exercise of rights fit to be attacked. He should know better.
If he had been a regular person, I bet you'd be condemning him.
I don't get how he's "brave" for getting his legs blown off. Sure, I mean it was hard treatment and it's sad, but he's a criminal. Few soldiers are the brave, white knights you think they are. Sure, his idea was noble, but murdering someone over their views is flat out wrong.
[QUOTE=Fycix;26542145]If he had been a regular person, I bet you'd be condemning him.
I don't get how he's "brave" for getting his legs blown off. Sure, I mean it was hard treatment and it's sad, but he's a criminal. Few soldiers are the brave, white knights you think they are. Sure, his idea was noble, but murdering someone over their views is flat out wrong.[/QUOTE]
I ment to agree with you but i hit dissagree -
I still hate them
[QUOTE=Fycix;26542145][b]murdering someone over their views is flat out wrong.[/b][/QUOTE]
I'm just going to go far out and say this: That's an opinion. Yes, I am saying that one of the worst crimes someone can commit is opinion based. And to be honest, in this case, I would be pretty damn happy if the fuckers all got there heads blown off, and I don't think I am alone.
Sometimes laws need to be broken and evils need to be committed to achieve what is right.
But that's just my opinion.
[QUOTE=ineedateam1;26542201]I ment to agree with you but i hit dissagree -
I still hate them[/QUOTE]
You can change your rating, unless you were being sarcastic.
I hate anti-gay groups as much as the next guy, but killing them won't solve anything. They win by using their words against our force.
[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Professer Trall;26542232]I'm just going to go far out and say this: That's an opinion. Yes, I am saying that one of the worst crimes someone can commit is opinion based. And to be honest, in this case, I would be pretty damn happy if the fuckers all got there heads blown off, and I don't think I am alone.
Sometimes laws need to be broken and evils need to be committed to achieve what is right.
But that's just my opinion.[/QUOTE]
You make a valid argument, and I would wholeheartedly agree if it weren't for the fact that they could use that against us. "We are the superior party because we use "peaceful" protesting methods versus their murder"
How good would that look?
[QUOTE=Professer Trall;26542232]I'm just going to go far out and say this: That's an opinion. Yes, I am saying that one of the worst crimes someone can commit is opinion based. And to be honest, in this case, I would be pretty damn happy if the fuckers all got there heads blown off, and I don't think I am alone.
Sometimes laws need to be broken and evils need to be committed to achieve what is right.
But that's just my opinion.[/QUOTE]
So let's make this clearer: You think it is "right" to murder a group of people for expressing their opinion? Their opinion is vile, but it's still their opinion. You think this is deserving of death?
I understand he hates them, as do we all, but killing them is just way too radical.
[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;26542250]So let's make this clearer: You think it is "right" to murder a group of people for expressing their opinion? Their opinion is vile, but it's still their opinion. You think this is deserving of death?[/QUOTE]
Exactly. I know it seems cruel but that's how I feel.
[QUOTE=FHamster;26541666]No way he had a M4. Probably an AR-15 or something.[/QUOTE]
M4(military) = AR-15(civilian)
[QUOTE=Fycix;26542240]You make a valid argument, and I would wholeheartedly agree if it weren't for the fact that they could use that against us. "We are the superior party because we use "peaceful" protesting methods versus their murder"
How good would that look?[/QUOTE]
My views don't work in the big picture, there more self righteousness then anything else.
[QUOTE=NEUFDANIELS;26541724]anyone who is willing to put their own life in jeopardy in order to serve their country is a hero in my books, even if they're fighting for the wrong reasons, or the wrong side[/QUOTE]
Why? He knew why he'd be fighting, it was a shit war.
[QUOTE=Armotekma;26542355]M4(military) = AR-15(civilian)[/QUOTE]
M4 = full-auto capabilities AR-15 = Purely semi-auto.
And don't you dare try and pull that "Oh but it's SO easy to convert to a selective fire" because you have no fucking concept of weapons if you believe that.
[QUOTE=Professer Trall;26542359]My views don't work in the big picture, there more self righteousness then anything else.[/QUOTE]
I understand and I fully agree. Sure, if it didn't have the backlash and escapist consequences, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. Sure, murder is "the worst crime committable", however it is deemed morally sound providing you are murdering someone that is an "enemy".
You may define an enemy as a soldier against the state attempting to strip us of our freedoms, or someone like that trying to strip a specific group of their freedoms.
[QUOTE=Fycix;26542395]M4 = full-auto capabilities AR-15 = Purely semi-auto.
And don't you dare try and pull that "Oh but it's SO easy to convert to a selective fire" because you have no fucking concept of weapons if you believe that.
I understand and I fully agree. Sure, if it didn't have the backlash and escapist consequences, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. Sure, murder is "the worst crime committable", however it is deemed morally sound providing you are murdering someone that is an "enemy".
You may define an enemy as a soldier against the state attempting to strip us of our freedoms, or someone like that trying to strip a specific group of their freedoms.[/QUOTE]
They are not exchangable terms, for the most part, M4 = AR-15, AR-15 =/= M4
there are differences between the two, but i don't get the concept of everyone thinking 5.56 is some magical round and the m4 being a "god weapon"
anyone who encourages or fantasizes about the death's of people who've done nothing except carry signs and shout loudly are people with little respect for anything humane or just
i thought the attitudes of the brownshirts were a thing of the past
[editline]7th December 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Professer Trall;26542232]
Sometimes laws need to be broken and evils need to be committed to achieve what is right.[/QUOTE]
that's authoritarianism, clear and cut
it is attitudes like that which lead to atrocities
[QUOTE=Armotekma;26542419]They are not exchangable terms, for the most part, M4 = AR-15, AR-15 =/= M4
there are differences between the two, but i don't get the concept of everyone thinking 5.56 is some magical round and the m4 being a "god weapon"[/QUOTE]
Don't start a retarded weapon discussion here. [highlight]NO ONE CARES.[/highlight]
I never understand terrorists and people who plot private attacks like this. I mean, HOW do you fail? HOW do you get discovered? You just blow that shit up, how much planning can that really take?
Quite frankly Free Speech considered and everything, the only thing that keeps me from wanting to make hate-speech a hate-crime is that we all know some fucking bastard in the future will use it to some horrible end that will eliminate even more rights.
Not that it matters these days. Say "bomb" on an airplane, "fire" in a theater or "I'm going to kill such-and-such"and nobody is going to respect your freedom of speech anyway. So if any exceptions CAN be made, I'd add it to that list. There is NO place in modern society for bigotry in any form. There will NEVER be a time in which hating the Jews, the gays or the blacks is [i]EVER[/i] going to be constructive towards bettering the human race.
Quite frankly, while "death" isn't what I'd consider right on my moral compass, I certainly won't shed any tears over them.
...well, maybe the kids. Not THEIR fault their parents are weak, not strong enough to even give them the chance to weigh the evidence and all sides for themselves. To let them question and learn, learn about God, if of course he IS real and IS punishing us based on what the parents apparently believe. After all, why wouldn't God WANT you to learn about his creation...?
...Unless of course you have doubts, or know that anyone looking for evidence is going to come up with nothing, so you have to instill primal fears about a place where you'll burn after death if you don't believe, into the fucking children, and tell them that your hearsay is the truth, and that the piles of contradicting-evidence whose existence even YOU can't deny, is just a "test of faith".
If I heard that a legless war veteran was on a war path at me I would be terrified.
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