Cumberland Co. (ECWd) –
As a follow up to the Neoga High School student who has been expelled from school for having a firearm in his vehicle, additional information has been obtained.
According to court records, Logan Baker was charged with a Class A Misdemeanor for possession of a firearm without a Firearms Owner Identification card (FOID). We have been unable to confirm if he has a FOID card and simply did not have it with him or if he does not have one at all. Those records are exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.
As I shared in this article, the punishment should fit the crime and the State’s Attorney has prosecutorial discretion in the matter. If the student broke the law, no matter how much we disagree with the law on this, he ‘could’ be prosecuted. However, as we all know, the level of prosecution must be balanced with all the facts, of which we may never know until an actual court hearing. The legal system takes time and sadly for this student, that will hurt him more than help him.
For those wishing to help this young man fight the madness of this system, we encourage you to donate to the cause so that he can obtain decent legal council on this matter. A “Go Fund Me’ site has been set up at this link.
In regards to the School Board and their zero tolerance policy, one can only wonder how such a policy can be placed on them for things they have done that truly have harmed the taxpayers? I seem to recall bond money designated for one purpose being used for a parking lot. Or their continued effort to raise property taxes because of their disregard for proper fiscal management of the Administration in the past.
Neoga School board may consider having their next meeting in a room large enough for hundreds of people as I think this issue is going to concern enough people that they are going to want answers.
Questions that the citizens of this district may consider asking this school board during their next meeting:
- Is it true that drugs and or drug paraphernalia were confiscated from the school that day and no one was suspended or expelled?
- Is it true that an Administrator has told a student to go home for having a gun in his vehicle and nothing else was done in the past?
- Is it true the ‘part-time’ Superintendent threatened an Administrator’s position if the punishment issued didn’t happen as demanded?
- Is it true bond money designated for a specific purpose was used for a parking lot instead of the designated purpose?
- Ask them to explain the back door referendums they passed in the past.
- Is it legal to use students to hand out papers on school property for Neoga Community Alliance that is pushing for a tax increase?
- Can those opposing it pass out their information on school property?
I understand that there is a special board meeting being held January 20, 2016 at the Neoga High School. I urge every citizen that believes this board’s punishment on this student is too excessive for the situation at hand, come and speak at the meeting.
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Agenda-special-meeting-January-14-2016.pdf”]
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10 Comments
sherry
Posted at 15:46h, 24 JanuaryI don’t think this even comes close to what Marshalls basketball players did abusing animals…just saying…BS to Neoga and Marshall High Schools….
Dustin Hakman
Posted at 07:55h, 22 JanuaryCan you re-refer me to the Illinois Statute someone associated with your group referenced that shows this was a local board decision and not already mandated by the state?
Silence Dogood
Posted at 07:14h, 21 Januarybecause nothing bad has ever happened from a child bringing a firearm to school. this child broke the law, endangered fellow students, and is lucky to still have his freedom. what purpose is there for bringing a firearm to school?
jmkraft
Posted at 07:18h, 21 Januarybecause a previous incident (from another student) of this same thing led to no punishment, this student did not intentionally and purposely bring it to school, and drugs and drug paraphernalia confiscated that same day at he school led to only minimal punishment – even though school policy lists drugs and guns as essentially the same level of bad behavior.
Silence Dogood
Posted at 07:27h, 21 Januaryso because a previous incident was mishandled, all future incidents should be as well? seems to me that the you should keep this in mind come election time. if someone steals from you and gets away, should the next person that steals from you get away just to be fair? how do you unintentionally place a firearm in your vehicle and bring it to school? if that if the case then i suspect there is a parental issue at hand. im not certain of IL gun laws but i believe that firearms must be secured in a case while in a vehicle. a foid card must be in your possession. firearms are illegal on school property. if this were to happen an in metro school district, how do you think this would be handled? should there be a double standard?
Dan
Posted at 07:44h, 21 JanuaryNot one student or faculty member was in any danger at any time. A sharpened pencil or baseball bat could do more damage than an empty firearm laying in the back seat of a truck. There was no ammunition in his vehicle. Yes he broke the law, but with that said he still has his freedom because there was no intent to do any harm. He had no “purpose” for bringing the hunting rifle to school, because there was no purpose period. Guns don’t kill, people do and your comment shows ignorance on your part.
Doris
Posted at 14:15h, 20 JanuarySo sorry the BOARD didn’t think this issue out completely before acting.
G. Barraclough
Posted at 13:03h, 19 January“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
-Generally attributed to Admiral Yamamoto after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.
It may well turn out that the Neoga School District Superintendant, the principal or whoever forced the expulsion and police referral of this young man may be saying much the same as Admiral Yamamoto by this time next year.
Dave
Posted at 12:50h, 19 JanuaryFOID cards violate our RIGHT to keep & bear arms and is an infringement. On top of that, the state is taxing our right to keep & bear arms. According to the fascists in Illinois state govt, we don’t have a RIGHT to keep & Bear arms unless we pay the FOID card tax. Next thing you know they will want to tax of freedom of speech & religion, we will have to pay a tax before we have the privilege. Don’t want to be illegally searched & seized, pay a tax.
The oppressive fascist state of Illinois reduces our RIGHTS to a privilege, Defeat organized crime, don’t elect commiecrats!
Dave
Posted at 12:41h, 19 JanuaryFascist Illinois police state