10 Years Too Much? Attorney Says Utica College Threat ‘Just A Prank’

Does Fahrudin Omerovic deserve ten years behind bars for calling in terroristic threats to Utica College? 

What his attorney calls 'a prank' from a 'lonely guy' was taken very seriously and was deemed 'real and credible' at the time. More than 100 law enforcement members were involved from the local, state and federal levels.

''It's always somebody's brother, or nephew or son...let's say that was your son, in college, being a goof. What would you want to see happen? What's justice in this case? I think [10 years is] unjust,'' Raspante said.[/pullquotes]

Omerovic faces two charges of making a terroristic threat, each carrying a possible sentence of 2-7 years. A plea offer from Oneida County District Attorney's Office would require the 23-year-old to plead guilty to both counts, in exchange for a 10 year sentence.

But, joining the Keeler in the Morning Show, Omerovic's lawyer, John Raspante, said a young man' life will be ruined if he's to serve a decade or more in prison.

''My client recognizes that what he did was wrong, reprehensible...he did it, he thought it was a prank,'' Raspante said.

''Everyday he's in jail crying, emotional, devastated...this is somebody who was about to graduate from Utica College on the dean's list, ready to go into physical therapy. [He] worked three jobs in addition to those full-time studies, to help out his parents who are disabled and not working. He has a twelve year old sister. This is a good person who did a bad act.

''My question remains, can justice be served, can a message be sent without ruining a young man's life?,'' Raspante said. ''It's just [that] 10 years, in my view....knowing the family, it's just too much.''

Continuing to project Omerovic as a someone who didn't full understand the consequences of what he did, Raspante couldn't say what he thought the appropriate penalty should be.

''It's always somebody's brother, or nephew or son...let's say that was your son, in college, being a goof. What would you want to see happen? What's justice in this case? I think [10 years is] unjust,'' Raspante said.

''It's also been pointed out, my client had no means whatsoever to carry out any threat. This not somebody who had any type of gun, knife, weapon, nothing.''

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Oneida County District Attorney recently joined Keeler to talk about the threat made to the Utica College campus and students, and why he feels the offer from DA's office is appropriate: