Judge Refuses to Dismiss Terror Charges Against Young Conservative Who Posted Rifle Pic on Social Media
Shane Trejo
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20-year-old Lucas Gerhard, who faces up to 20 years in prison for posting a picture of his rifle on social media, was denied his motion to dismiss charges on June 11 in a Chippewa County court in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Big League Politics broke the story earlier this year of how Gerhard was banned from continuing his studies at Lake Superior State University dorm and charged with making terroristic threats because he posted an image that triggered a far-left student on campus. Because the student was scared by a picture of a firearm with text making fun of liberal snowflakes, Gerhard is facing decades in prison as a result.
The Court repeatedly denied a request made by Gerhard’s lawyer, Nick Somberg to record the proceedings and broadcast them on the internet. They are determined to keep the railroading of an outspoken conservative under the cover of darkness, particularly now that the story has gone viral. Many supporters of Gerhard were denied entry into the courthouse as well, with the COVID-19 pandemic used as an excuse to keep them out.
The prosecutor made the argument that because Gerhard posted a picture of his rifle along with a comment regarding how the firearm would offend campus snowflakes on Snapchat, this was adequate to proceed with terror charges and a jury trial. Circuit Court Judge James Lambros ultimately concurred with the argument from the prosecution and denied Gerhard’s motion to dismiss. The case will likely head to trial as a result of Lambros’ decision.
“My opinion is that the judge had no choice but to take the safe approach, as many of the unorthodox and contextually misleading arguments that the prosecution introduced were simply bells that could not be unrung at that point,” said Gerhard’s father, Mark, a retired Marine Colonel, to Big League Politics.
Despite the judge commenting positively on Gerhard’s demeanor and complimenting the young man for his composure while facing the charges, Gerhard was ultimately kept on a tether because of highly irregular behavior from the prosecution. They inexplicably produced a video of a Mosque shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand from 2019 and played it in the courtroom for several minutes to bias the proceedings.
“As a Marine, I’ve been exposed to some incredibly traumatic events [to include combat], and even so, it was entirely sickening watching the violent video. It was one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever seen in my life. The point of a tether is to prevent someone from fleeing bond. How the prosecutor was allowed to play this for seven or eight minutes, without any real contextual value linking the reasoning as to why Lucas should remain tethered, was both mystifying and disturbing,” Col. Gerhard said to Big League Politics.
“I feel it was borderline unethical and certainly inappropriate for the prosecutor to introduce something so inflammatory, knowing full well the Judge would not know the basis of how and where it was derived from,” he added.
Because Lucas was in a Snapchat group in which the video was shared, he was deemed a threat by the courts, and his strict confinement was upheld – in yet another egregious violation of his 1st Amendment rights by the state of the Michigan. The video was not listed as evidence beforehand, and this footage completely unrelated to the case was improperly used to manipulate the hearing.
The prosecution was adamant to Gerhard’s attorney that they will not give up the case because they wish to strip Lucas of his 2nd Amendment rights forever and send a message to conservatives nationwide. They are pulling out all the stops to make an example that there are no more core freedoms, only privileges that can and will be yanked away in a moment’s notice, in the new Soviet-style regime being instituted nationwide.
The Gerhard family has also yet to receive a written order from the state in order to appeal the court’s rejection of the motion to dismiss. They have 21 days to file the appeal, and they fear that the state will send them the order after their window has expired – yet again using coronavirus as the rationale to stack the deck even further against Lucas.
The Gerhard family is also concerned that the state may be dragging the case out in an attempt to bleed them dry of funds. After the family is made financially destitute by the system, a guilty plea could more easily be coerced, which would set a precedent used to deprive outspoken conservatives of their constitutional rights. These are the same tactics that the feds tried to use on General Michael Flynn before he was ultimately vindicated and exonerated.
Right now, the Gerhard family is asking for support as they continue their fight for the Bill of Rights and to keep Lucas out of prison. A defense fund has been set up in Lucas’ name via GoFundMe to defray the incredibly high cost of his substantial legal expenses, as the family hopes to escape the horrifying ordeal and prevent an incredible injustice from taking place.
Big League Politics will continue to provide updates on the Gerhard case as it proceeds.
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