NORTHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — A judge has dismissed some of the most serious charges against a former Minnesota college student who police and prosecutors feared was plotting a campus shooting.
Waylon Kurts, of Montpelier, Vermont, who was then a student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, was charged last April with conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit threats of violence, making terroristic threats, and a less serious count of conspiracy to commit theft. Prosecutors alleged he was “planning a mass casualty event.”
But Rice County Judge Christine Long this week dismissed two of the felony counts against Kurts, citing a lack of evidence that he was conspiring with anyone to commit assault or threats of violence, KARE-TV reported.
Kurts, who has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail, has maintained that he is a recreational firearms enthusiast and was just exchanging text messages on that topic with a like-minded friend.
Jeezy BACKTRACKS on request for full custody of daughter Monaco, two, amid Jeannie Mai divorce
Christopher Luxon defends use of taxpayer funds for Auckland
Pilot of crashed Baltimore ship called for tugboat help minutes before ploughing into bridge
Government's targets: 'Where is the action behind these?'
Five young men shot at gathering in Maryland park
'Rust' armorer called 'sloppy,' defense says she's a scapegoat
Christopher Luxon defends use of taxpayer funds for Auckland
Miles Russell is 15. He sets Korn Ferry Tour record as the youngest player to make the cut
Fallen 'Crypto King' Sam Bankman
Royal Bank of Scotland to close 18 more branches with the loss of 105 jobs
Man arrested after alleged stabbing in Papamoa, Bay of Plenty