Robert W. Kerekes, 53, of Morris Plains, was arrested after calling in death threats last month aimed at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington – “I’m on my way to Evergreen University now with a .44 Magnum. I am going to execute as many people on that campus as I can get a hold of.”
Kerekes was released and FREE TO GO under NJ Bail Reform after the “Pretrial Risk Assessment” tool determined that they were not a danger to the community or a flight risk and therefore should not be subject to any accountable release – just a “promise” to appear.
Another “validated pretrial risk assessment” Failure.
New Jersey Bail Reform, Risk Assessments, and Pretrial Release Services…
- ZERO Accountability
- ZERO Deterrent
- ZERO Supervision
- ZERO concern for victims
- ZERO Bail…just a “pinky promise” to return
- Bail Reform – Dangerous, Reckless, and a Taxpayer Burden
Morris Plains man charged with death threats to Washington college released from jail
(reported by Daily Record – July 5 2017)
The defense lawyer for an unemployed Morris Plains man who is accused of calling in death threats last month aimed at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., said Wednesday that the alleged threats may be protected speech under the First Amendment.
“This case is about speech, not action,” attorney Brian Neary said after a review hearing in Morristown for defendant Robert W. Kerekes Jr., 53, who was ordered released from custody while the charges are pending and to appear in Superior Court on Aug. 14 for a pre-indictment conference.
Kerekes, who is not married and lists his father in Whippany as his emergency contact, was charged by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday with terroristic threats, criminal coercion and causing a false public alarm at Evergreen State College in the state of Washington on June 1 and June 2.
Kerekes, whose demeanor was calm and polite, appeared via closed circuit television between the Morris County jail and a courtroom for an initial appearance before Judge Joseph Deming. Kerekes has no prior criminal record but he was charged in Florida in 1984 with trespass and the charge was dismissed because he was deemed incompetent at that time.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Fiorentino said that Kerekes – who has no connection to the college but has read news reports about student protests on campus about alleged racial discrimination – said Kerekes is charged with making two explicit threats against the college.
In one threat, the caller said: “I’m on my way to Evergreen University now with a .44 Magnum. I am going to execute as many people on that campus as I can get a hold of.” Authorities have said the threat, made to the Thurston County Communications Center in Washington state, led to a college shutdown on June 1 and June 2 for an investigation.
Kerekes allegedly said: “I’m going to murder as many people on that campus as I can.” Criminal complaints filed in Superior Court, Morristown, said the caller stated he intended to target African Americans. Fiorentino said the caller’s second threat was that he physically was on campus and the murders were about to begin.
A current public safety assessment performed by the court’s pretrial services unit recommended pretrial release but Fiorentino asked the judge to impose a special condition that Kerekes undergo a mental health evaluation.
“We don’t believe an ROR (release on own recognizance) without any conditions will protect the safety of our community,” Fiorentino told the judge. “Based on the content of those threats, we ask that the defendant refrain from possessing any firearms, destructive device or other dangerous weapons.” She asked that Kerekes also be forbidden from contacting the college or any of its students or representatives.
Fiorentino said a mental health evaluation is warranted so that the public can be better protected if Kerekes does have an untreated mental health condition. The judge agreed and ordered the evaluation, though the defense lawyer objected.
You’ve been LIED to New Jersey…NJ Bail Reform is RECKLESS, DANGEROUS, and YOU are PAYING for it.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
https://www.usbailreform.com/atlantic-city-nj-3-new-york-city-drug-dealers-caught-1-million-fentanyl-laced-heroin-free-go-nj-bail-reform/