Wow, this kid must have the best lawyer in the world to sell that story to prosecutor. Sifferman buys it also, apparently. We'll see if the school board is as guillible at the expulsion hearing.

This permissive attitude is another example of the PC atmosphere that will eventually destroy what we have known as decent society. This stupid person should have been expelled, disallowed from graduating with his class and faced some sort of criminal charges to discourage future stupidity of this nature. God forbid anything like Columbine happens again. And where are the parents in this? I hope this kid is disciplined more severely at home than the prosecuter has seen fit. Looks like all he cares about is getting re-elected.

While what this student said was inappropriate and wrong, what everyone doesn't seem to know or understand is that had this 17 year old boy who got the "you're first" text, knew the 18yr old was joking and deliberately lied to get attention from girls. He even told the 18yr old not to tell anyone they were joking (inappropriately and wrongly so) because he enjoyed the attention he was getting. While the originator of the text is wrong had the 17yr old not lied this would have never gone any further than boys making inappropriate comments to each other as boys do. Now I don't see anyone here calling for punishment for the 17yr old? So who really started the panic? Why is he able to graduate and not suspended?
The paper clearly said the people who the texts went to knew who it was and never felt threatened. The prosecutor made his decision based upon the investigation not for re-election.

I am amazed at how quick people believe everything they read and take it as gospel. Before the truth came out people on here asked for the death penalty, called him a monster, said his parents were horrible people to raise such a child. This was and is a good kid who made a stupid decision. None of you people can tell me that your kids have not said something that could be misconstrued and made out to be more than it is. Again, had this conversation between two friends not been used for someone else's gain we would not be having this conversation.

There were no death threats. That's what you seem to not get. You should talk to some of the students that received the texts and get your story straight, none of those students felt threatened in anyway. Not to mention get a copy of the police report I'm sure you can get that under the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act). This 18yr old never said anything on twitter or facebook this kid doesn't even have a twitter account that was all started by the 17yr old. I am not saying that what he did was right in this day and age regardless if you are joking or not you can't discuss things like that in public.

And yes there were people asking for the death penalty. Look back in the comments it was either on here or the Livingstondaily.com site. And maybe those kids would not have been scared if the 17yr old was not lying to get a girls attention.

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Please Hartland Eagle, stop hiding behind a pen name. I am curious to know who would have such irrational views on a subject that you have absolutely NO knowledge of the TRUE facts. I suggest that you let the PROPER authorities make the decisions regarding this issue.....because your judgements against someone you don't know, and for a subject that you only have minimal (and quite possible inaccurate) information, are simply ludicrous and insensitive.

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How did this boy get off so easy? Although this is a child and children make mistakes, this mistake caused a school to close down for a day, scared many kids, teachers, parents, and he needs to live up to his consequences and face criminal charges.

Yes, a stupid mistake, but good kid or not, if you make a threat in a school and the school shuts down for a day, you need to face the consequences.

Hartland Eagle,

Yes, making death threats is a crime and should be punished. How the authorities see best fit to punish the criminal is up to them... and those who do not agree can voice their opinion if they want. However, I absolutely doubt you arguing with other commenters will change the ruling. On the Hartland Patch website comments are comments. You may add your own thoughts on the topics if you choose to do so but that is all that is needed. Nobody cares if you disagree with him or her. Nobody cares if you agree. Voice your opinion logically and not so emotionally. If you really care to argue your point the best way to do so is to have straight facts that are indisputable. Your approach to the topic is flawed and quit frankly childish. Learn to state your reasoning logically and you will get more respect.

Additionally do not EVER attack the editor. Most likely she is in fact more intelligent when it comes to the English Language. I don’t think that anyone cares if you were defamatory or not but if the editor states you were then move on. She is doing her job and keeping the website safe for the Hartland Community. (She even removed a mean comment toward you) After all Hartland Eagle, is this not a website that is suppose to be promoting the Hartland community? Share your comments in a Socratic fashion and be understanding that the editor is doing her best to protect you and everyone.

Have a great day Hartland and may God bless the child who made a mistake.

Hartland Eagle, these quotes are from the Argus, The texts were: "24," "May 24" and "You're first."." When the senior told his friends that it was a joke, a 17-year-old friend who received the initial texts asked him not to confess right away because he was enjoying the female attention as well, he said. The you're first and 17yr old are the same person, I'm sure you can put it together.
So again, I agree it was an inappropriate conversation between boys but who really started the panic?

Hey Hartland Eagle, thanks for your anonymous reply. First of all, I don't care if everyone knows my opinion on this subject, or the fact that they may hold something against me because of it. I have plenty of family, friends, and loyal customers who know me and love me for the compassionate person that I am. A person who believes that due punishment, when appropriate, is manadatory, and compassion for an 18 yr old who made a simple mistake (whether it caused MASS HYSTERIA on your part or not) be treated APPROPRIATELY.
I happen to know the identity of this boy who made the mistake, and his father coached my son during his HAYAA baseball activities, so therefore can make a logical decision whether his intent was malicous or not, so I suggest that people stop condemning these people and move on with your PERFECT life!
Except for you Hartland Eagle, people make mistakes, and yes while this one caused some hysteria and heartache for the community, and of course inconvenienced many.....no one died, no one was in danger of their life, no real threat existed, so I say once again, let the proper authorities access the proper punishment.
By the way, why has there been little talk of the two malicous vandals who started all this mess! They are the ones who should be punished more severely, in my opinion of course, because they willfully and knowingly went to the school with the INTENT on defacing school property.
There was no intent on the other boys part!

Oh just so that everyone knows I'm not perfect, in my third paragraph of my previous post, I meant to say "assess" the proper punishment, not "access". Thanks!

Hartland Eagle,
When are you going to stop and realize that nobody cares that you want the kid charged as a terrorist? Everytime someone voices their own opinion you attack them. I'm surprised you have not not been blocked from commenting on this topic. I enjoy your comments on other stories and most of the time I agree with you, but your comments on this story are irritaiting. All I can say to the kid that did the crime is good for you.
And additionally you have not made one valid point except for your child was scared. Who's also only appealing to emotion in their argument? Give me one valid point and maybe people will respect you. And FYI this website does promote hartland. It has brought the community together, made us more aware of our surroundings, and it has shown other towns near us that Hartland has more to offer than they thought. And if I might add our editor has done a great job keeping this website running. Email her if you have an issue with her like she stated above multiple times. Don't disrespect someone publicly when they are only doing their job.

I just want to thank Annie, Marie, Jason, Sassyme, and Hartland Parent for your rational comments regarding this issue! Also, Livingston Chatter I respect your comments too, although I don't believe "he got off easy", no charges were filed because no laws were broken, and the prosecutor made his decision after a thorough investigation of the FACTS of the case. And this kid has suffered consequences and will possibly suffer more based on the expulsion hearing, however they are, and will be made, by the people (investigators, school officials, and parents) with the knowledge of the true facts of the issue. While I believe this individual should face some consequences, I also believe that the punishment needs to fit the crime, so to speak. And in the end I believe that will happen because the proper people will assess the punishment, not irrational people who have only limited, incorrect, or rumored information regarding the case, or that they are reacting to the fact they, or someone in their family, felt like they were directly violated by the actions(s) of the individual(s) involved. Let's just forgive and move on!

One last comment, then I'm done with this issue:
I would like to suggest to the people who want to persecute this young man, please read "Hartland Girl" comments from a previous Patch Article (Spray Painting at Hartland High School"). This is not a kid who meant any harm to anyone, and I'm sure has suffered enough already. Please, lets forgive and learn from his mistakes! And God Bless you young man.

So Hartland Eagle you are basing your entire position on this matter solely on the original perceptions of the parents, police, and school district, as well as your emotions, and "things you read in the paper", as you stated. Ever think that what is written isn't fact?!! Well while I totally understand their original handling of the situation, as they absolutely have a responsibility to protect the students and community, they obviously made a decision not to prosecute after reviewing the true facts of the case, and speaking to every one of the students directly or indirectly involved, and decided that it was both not a legal violation of the law, but an innocent mistake by a student. You say that the parents thought it was a threat, it wasn't. The police perceived it as a threat, they have to until proven otherwise, which they did. The school district perceived it as a threat, once again, they have to until proven otherwise, which they did.
And by the way, never met the kid in my life, his younger brother played with my son. I only know that judging this young man in the court of public opinion is wrong! Especially when you base your judgement on what is written in the media! Because they are never wrong, like you!

Continued for Hartland Eagle.....I have based my judgement on many things, I've spoken with students directly involved in the text messaging, I've spoken to school administrators who have knowledge of the facts, I've spoke to my son who attends HHS (Not HMS who weren't even involved, and by the way, the school district didn't feel were threatened in any way since they were not included in the closing of schools) and he has given me information about whats being said around the school, and also bits and pieces of the articles written that I know to be factual.

So start writing that endorsement to the school board for this young man.

I'm sorry but therehas to he some reproductions for this kid. yes kids do stupid things they drink and drive they get high all of which have punishments. pulling a fire alarm is stupid but it has a consequence to it. joking or not this kid caused a whole school to be shut down for a whole day had extra sheriffs time and increased security brought in and an investigation created just for being stupid. glad my tax dollars are spent affording him zero consequences instead of expanding my child's learning. the only thing this is promoting is to convince people what u did wrong was a joke and u get off Scott free-doesn't add up to me.

Sorry about spelling errors I couldn't see what I was typing but u c an get the idea

Meg, appreciate and agree with your opinion. I believe this young man will pay some consequence, all I'm asking is that it fits the crime. The people who rant and rave about what a bad person he is, or that his parents are horrible to have raised such a child, or that he needs to be in prison, not graduate, etc, etc. are simply not fairly judging him or the severity of the offense. It was a joke gone wrong, no intent to threaten anyone, and wasn't meant to disrupt the entire community. While I realize the havoc it caused was stressful to many, what I believe people must consider is, that the poor kid didn't mean for it to get to the point it did. And for anyone to equate it to "a bomb threat", or "pulling a fire alarm", or to "posessing a firearm", or any weapon for that matter, is simply wrong in their opinions.
The issue here is, INTENT, which all of the aforementioned have. There was none in this case, just a kid making a joke that was taken the wrong way. Lets prosecute real criminals, like the vandals who defaced school property which started this whole mess!

Jerry, I spoke with a female student that received a text stating "you are #*", she was terrified all weekend, monday and tuesday of that week. The two were having fun causing havoc, that was the intent you are saying doesn't exist. The recipients of the texts weren't in on the "joke".
This event does not make the "kid" (who's name many of us know) and his friend "bad people", nor are his parents "bad people". However, something a little more than a 10 day suspension needs to be done to prevent others from doing the exact same thing (in your mind "harmless") Some community service and a fine could do the trick. Sometimes, not embarassing your family, or costing them some money, or goiving up some free time, is a deterrent from acting foolishly. Maybe simply releasing his name, as he is an adult, would accomplish the same.
Livingston County is gaining a reputation of being "soft" on 18 year olds, treating them like children, only to have them become repeat offenders soon thereafter.
Lastly, they are prosecuting the vandals. But I assure you, this "joke" has cost the community far more than the spray painting will.
Actually, one more thing, a question for you. Would you please explain to me how his idiotic reference to "polishing his rifle" is linked to the "you are #", "you are next" and the "24" texts? To me, it only shows how it started off as joking, and moved to terrorizing. Thanks.

Ok, so I have reviewed the police report and I am telling you all the only texts that were sent were the refernce 24, May 24, you're first and the polishing of the rifle. The "you're first" student knew who sent the text and knew it was a joke. There is a text that the "you're first" sent to the originator and asked him not to tell anyone that it was a joke and again school and police have a picture of the text. He knew by the end of the day there was no threat or anything to worry about. The student who received the polishing the rifle knew who it was and the texts thereafter were hinting to inappropriate innuendos and was playing along with the banter. AND NEVER FELT THREATENED. As far as students getting texts saying you are number --- there were none by the individual. Also the "You're fist" student the police even stated in the report they questioned his statements as being credible. So yes this took a life of it's own via rumors and such, inappropriate comments yes but there was never any intent or nor did he ever threaten anyone. And yes Hartland HS parent I'm sure everyone knows who this student is but I believe he has suffered enough as well as his family. There has been more false reporting in the media regarding this subject than truth. Almost like how the texts spread across the student body. For those who asked for compassion on behalf of the family they thank you. Any more questions just ask. So you can base your opinions on truth not rumor.

Hartland Eagle, Hartland HS Parent may have very well spoke with a scared girl all I'm saying is that the 18yr old didn't send it. The police have copies of all the text messages that were sent from his phone what they said and who they were to. He gave them his phone and all his passwords even to the dummy text account. Just like he never sent anything on twitter that was confirmed as well. Any other statements I can clarify for you? You still do not have all the facts and are reciting word of mouth what you have heard and although you are quoting from the paper you still don't know the conversations that happened before or after which would explain so much more of the story than you have. Oh and by the way he never threatened anyone on facebook as well. As far as that goes he never threatened anyone AT ALL.

Where is the Hartland Patch self-appointed moderator? LOL

Hi Jordan- thank you for the question and the feedback. It just so happens that Patch is re-working the site design, literally- as we speak, which is meant to show more comments in the stream. We all agree that Patch is designed as a community forum so being able to see what people are talking is so important- so yes- short answer- we hope to see some changes again soon. (:

As always, thank you to everyone for reading and participating on Patch and if there are any other questions, contact me at tatum.ryan@patch.com