It's about damn time one of these idiots got some real punishment. It's just too bad someone had to die first.

From the article:

WICHITA, Kan. — A California man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for making bogus emergency calls to authorities across the U.S., including one that led police to fatally shoot a Kansas man following a dispute between two online players over $1.50 bet in the Call of Duty: WWII video game.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren sentenced Tyler R. Barriss, 26, under a deal in which he pleaded guilty in November to a total of 51 federal charges related to fake calls and threats. The plea agreement called for a sentence of at least 20 years — well over the 10 years recommended under sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors believe it is the longest prison sentence ever imposed for the practice of "swatting," a form of retaliation in which someone reports a false emergency to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to descend on an address.

Melgren said the case went into "uncharted legal territory," that the law has not caught up with technology and the charges didn't address the severity of what happened.

The 2017 death of 28-year-old Andrew Finch drew national attention to swatting. But Barriss had made dozens of such calls before that and was "known as the guy on Twitter that is good at this," his attorney, Richard Federico, said.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...r-BBVn019?li=BBnbfcL

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:
But Barriss had made dozens of such calls before that and was "known as the guy on Twitter that is good at this," his attorney, Richard Federico, said.

Not many can say they are really good at something.

Congrats on receiving your door prize.

It's murder-by-proxy. The fact that it is done in conjunction with online gaming, or the fact that police are used does not excuse or ameliorate the underlying crime or intent.

But, curiously:

quote:

Originally posted by RichN:
But Barriss had made dozens of such calls before that and was "known as the guy on Twitter that is good at this," his attorney, Richard Federico, said.

Why would you say this about your client? I can see the prosecuting US Attorney saying that about the defendant, but not the defendant's own defense attorney.

I would be okay if he doesn’t serve his whole sentence.

He will get his own SWATTING when they burst into his cell for unannouced searches. Standard protocol in most facilities when contraband is suspected. Hope he enjoys the suspense.

I don't understand why he wasn't charged with murder like when you commit a crime with a buddy and he's killed, they charge the survivors with the murder.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I would be okay if he doesn’t serve his whole sentence.

I want him to serve his entire sentence with zero days off for "good behavior" or similar rewards, then, after being released, as he heads to the bus to town, he is run over by five SWAT team MRAPs heading to a real hostage situation.

That would be both irony and justice.