© The Sun NewsConvicted: Christian Helms pleaded guilty to adult charges of attempted murder and carrying pipe bombs to a school in Socastee, near Myrtle Beach
Christian Helms pleaded guilty to adult charges of attempted murder and carrying pipe bombs to a school in Socastee, near Myrtle Beach.
Evidence showed that the then 14-year-old Helms brought a .38-caliber revolver to school last September and fired it at a school police officer, wounding him, Horry County Assistant Solicitor Alicia Richardson said.
"He had a hit list," Richardson said. "There were 20-something people on it."
Police found bomb-making equipment at his home and writings that indicated he idolized previous school shooters at Columbine High School in Colorado and Virginia Tech, Richardson said.
She said the teen also had made videos of his homemade bomb detonations and posted them on YouTube prior to the school attack.
Helms talked about being bullied extensively at school, Richardson said.
"He talked about being teased for his red hair," she said.
Doctors who testified in his defense said the teen suffered from depression, conduct disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, she said.
Helms had faced up to 30 years in prison on the attempted murder charge and two to 15 years each on two bomb charges.
He was sentenced to serve five years of probation after his release from prison.
(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)
Reader Comments
South Carolina is not known as a state with an enlightened correctional system, but one might hope that it won't just stick him in a state prison.
He got about the same sentence he might expect in most states if tried as a juvenile on similar charges, incarceration until he reaches age 21. But kids convicted of similar crimes are usually sentenced to juvenile facilities where they serve their time with other juveniles and are given schooling so they might have some hope of taking up productive lives upon their release. In an adult prison, this kid will just be victimized yet further, and either destroyed physically and/or mentally or hardened, not rehabilitated. Trying and sentencing such children as adults is very cruel, no matter what the politicians think.