Texas teen Justin Carter is free on bail, after spending nearly five months in prison for allegedly posting “terroristic” threats on Facebook, courtesy of an unnamed donor who posted his $500,000 bond.
The ecstatic 19-year-old said Friday he had a learned a hard lesson. “I certainly would have thought a lot more about what I said and how permanent my writing is,” he admitted in an interview with CNN.
He had been in prison since March, charged with a felony count of making terrorist threats over a Facebook comment he posted in February during an online argument with another player of “League of Legends.”
Carter claims he was being sarcastic, in response to being called a “sicko,” when he shot back: “I think I’ma shoot up a kindergarten. And watch the blood of the innocent rain down. And eat the beating heart of one of them.”
On Friday, newly released from a Colma County prison near San Antonio, Carter said he still believes the incident “got taken out of context and it’s been blown out of proportion.”
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His case has become a national news story. More than 125,000 signatures demanding his release have been gathered in just days on an online petition seeking donations.
An anonymous “Good Samaritan” put up his bail, which his family could not afford, dad Jack Carter said.
Earlier this month, the father said his son had been beaten by other inmates, forced naked into solitary confinement by prison guards, and had been placed on a suicide watch.
Now, Jack Carter said, he is stunned someone gave $50,000, the 10 percent of his son’s bond amount necessary to free him.
“I had to sit down,” the dad said Friday. “I even asked … if it was a joke. I was just completely taken aback. It’s just such an amazing thing.”
Mom Jennifer Carter said, “I’m over the moon happy … it’s been hard sleeping. I just want to spend all my time talking to him and looking at him.”
Justin Carter’s trial is scheduled to begin next year. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
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