Teenager Jailed For Facebook Comment Brutalized Behind Bars

Jailed gamer Justin Carter concussed, black eyed, left nude behind bars.Paul Lawrance

The Texas teen whose sarcastic comment over Facebook led to his arrest has been the recipient of beatings and other cruel punishment behind bars, according to what his father Jack told NPR.

Teenager Arrested for Sarcastic Comment Over Online Video Game

“Without getting into the really nasty details, he’s had concussions, black eyes, moved four times from base for his own protection,” said Justin’s father.

He’s been put in solitary confinement, nude, for days on end because he’s depressed. All of this is extremely traumatic to this kid. This is a horrible experience.

A woman in Canada saw Justin's comment – a comment which has been described as being sarcastic by Justin and his father – and gave a tip to police.

In February, detectives searched his home and seized his computer.

Court documents indicate Carter replied with: “I think Ima shoot up a kindergarten / And watch the blood of the innocent rain down/ And eat the beating heart of one of them,” NPR reports.

The comment was in response to something a fellow League of Legends player said during an in-game dispute they had.

It has been reported that Justin followed his comments with ’lol’ and ‘jk’. (Laughing out loud and just kidding).

This lead to a Grand Jury indictment of a terroristic threat charge in April placing him in Comal County, TX jail.

Carter's Bail has been set at $500,000 dollars.

Carter's attorney, who in the past has represented everyone from murders to rapists, says he has never seen a bond at the price of Justin Carter's.

A petition titled ‘Release My Son Justin Carter – In Jail For A Facebook Comment’ started by Justin’s parents has 40,000 signatures.

A post on the petition's website from the teen's mother Jennifer Carter reads,

My son, Justin Carter, was arrested on February 14, 2013 (yes, Valentine’s Day) because of a sarcastic comment he posted on Facebook about a computer game which was then taken out of context by a complete stranger! Please sign my petition to help release my son, Justin.

Justin has become a victim of the war on terror. Anti-terror laws have put an innocent teenager behind bars for months without a trial.

This should alarm everyone speaking freely through a social media platform.

A new hearing has been set for July 16 to bring up issues of his abuse and to try to get his bond lowered so Carter can go home to await trial.

Listen to NPR’s interview with Jack Carter here.

Paul Lawrance writes for Eyes Open Report, where this article first appeared. 

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