MN - Waylon Kurts - St. Olaf College student - suspected of plotting a "mass casualty event" - April 5, 2023

[savagewoman]

St. Olaf student charged in alleged plot of violence released from jail

A suspended St. Olaf College student is heading home to Vermont while his criminal case on charges he was hatching a plot of violence continues.
Jail officials in Rice County confirm that 20-year-old Waylon Kurts left the facility at 8:50 a.m. Thursday.
During a hearing Wednesday morning a judge determined that Kurts, his defense team and family have satisfied terms that allowed his release from jail. The final sticking point was getting a complete list of every gun that was previously in the Kurts family home, the serial number and registered owner of each.

Judge demands firearm information before release of St. Olaf student accused in plot

A suspended St. Olaf College student was ordered to remain behind bars until his family can provide information on a number of firearms owned by the family, and assurances he will not be able to access those guns.
Waylon Kurts appeared in Rice County District Court Friday for a routine hearing on charges of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit threats of violence and making terrorist threats. Prosecutors maintain Kurts was hatching a violent plot, one that may have targeted the St. Olaf campus.

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/prosecutor-return-st-olaf-mass-casualty-plotter-to-mn-because-his-gps-monitor-has-no-signal/89-87599c8a-24fb-4253-a426-753107489bcf

Just one week after the conditions of his release were finalized, his bail was paid by his mother and former St. Olaf College student Waylon Kurts returned to his home state of Vermont, the prosecutor is asking the judge to immediately send him back to Minnesota because his GPS monitor has no signal.

He was charged with terroristic threats and conspiracy to commit assault and threats of violence after a custodian found empty packages for high-capacity magazines and subsequent police searches found ammunition, extended magazines, tactical gear, hand-drawn maps and combat strategies, and more.

IMO
St Olaf College is south of Minneapolis MN and in the small town of Northfield. My parents, brother and husband all went to this small private Christian college. I'm in shock by this case because of the college and that it was just by chance that he was caught. After he was arrested and his Vermont parents came to his rescue. Now they want him back in MN because no GPS. Crazy!

 

[savagewoman]

Alleged St. Olaf College mass shooting plotter no longer monitored by GPS or prohibited from having guns
SBM
The former St. Olaf College student who police believe was planning a “mass casualty event” is no longer being monitored through GPS by Rice County, restricted from having firearms, or restricted from being in places guns are sold or used after his mother posted additional bail money.

Derek Kruse, director of public safety at St. Olaf College, emailed families of students to inform them of the change to Kurts’ conditions and let them know the school’s no-trespass order is still in place.

 

[cocomod]

Kurts fights for state-wide respect

Waylon Kurts forgot to bring his shorts to this year’s New England Cross-Country Running Championships, but he remembered his lunch pail.

www.timesargus.com

Kurts fights for state-wide respect​

The U-32 junior scrambled to find some extra clothing and placed 25th to earn All-Region honors, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 32.7 seconds. Although Raiders cross-country coach Andrew Tripp jokes about how Kurts can be a space cadet, his times are no laughing matter. Kurts was one of the state’s most improved racers in 2018, surging midway through the season to earn the Times Argus Runner of the Year award along with teammate Andrew Crompton.


He was an athlete that fought to improve his rankings.

 

[cocomod]

Waylon Kurts

U-32 High School

www.timesargus.com

Kurts led the Raiders to their fourth consecutive Division II state championship with a 75-point team victory over runner-up Woodstock. The three-sport standout raced to a 39-second individual victory over Wasps star Riley Shepherd, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 50 seconds. He improved his time at states three years in row after finishing in 18:36 as a freshman.

 

[cenazoic]

The former St. Olaf College student who police believe was planning a “mass casualty event” is no longer being monitored through GPS by Rice County, restricted from having firearms, or restricted from being in places guns are sold or used after his mother posted additional bail money.

What kind of stupidity is this?

At least St Olaf doesn’t seem to be messing around.

 

[Howl]

I am, frankly, gobsmacked at the idiocy of turning this guy loose to do whatever with unfettered access to firearms and no GPS.
No words.

 

[savagewoman]

Former St. Olaf student suspected of mass casualty plot files motion to dismiss charges

SBM
Now, in a motion to dismiss the charges accompanied by 500 pages of police reports, text message screenshots and other documents, Kurts' attorney Paul Rogosheske has provided the court an alternative explanation for Kurts' possessions and motivations, acknowledging he may have violated campus policy but did not break the law.
At the forefront of Rogosheske's motions is the revelation that police were never able to find a "co-conspirator," which would be required for prosecutors to continue with the first two counts of the criminal complaint.
Rogosheske included more than 200 pages of text message correspondence between Kurts and a 25-year-old friend of his from Vermont whom police presumable initially labeled a co-conspirator. The friends texted about their interest in listening to police radio transmissions, building rifles and shipping gun magazines, but there are no overt discussions of any plot.
That young man from Vermont has been questioned but hasn't been charged with a crime.
"A person cannot conspire with themselves," Rogoscheske wrote. "Conspiracy requires a collective criminal agreement and an overt act by one of the conspirators in furtherance of the criminal agreement."

According to Rogoscheske's motion, Kurts is a recreational shooter and hunter. A Vermont State Patrol police report notes that Kurts' father referred to his son as a "prepper," which is someone who believes a catastrophic disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it.

In his motion, here is how Rogoscheske explained or characterized the additional pieces of evidence prosecutors cite in the criminal complaint:

• Shoot House plans: Ideas for constructing recreational plastic pellet airsoft shoot house for mock events.
• Notes with police radio frequencies: Kurts has a ham radio license and has an interest in public radio frequencies such as these.
• Gas mask: Purchased during the pandemic as a prank
• Notebook writings with combat strategies and killing strategies: Self-defense and tactical material widely available on the internet.

The issues included in Rogoscheske's motions will be argued at a Rice County court hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.

IMO
defense is doing their job. I get that. some of this is a stretch though.
I hope he stays in Vermont/Massachusetts

 

[savagewoman]

Attorney for St. Olaf alleged mass casualty plotter files explanations for each piece of evidence

SBM

But Kurts, back in Minnesota from his home in Vermont for a hearing at the Rice County Courthouse, is not just trying to prove his innocence — his attorney Paul Rogosheske is fighting for the judge to toss the case before it gets to a trial.

When asked what he thinks a jury would do if they see the evidence, Rogosheske said, "I think the jury is going to be on our side. I mean, the evidence is clear. There's not one person who said he wanted to hurt us. And everything that they have, we have an explanation for," Rogosheske said.

The next decision to be made is whether the judge schedules a trial for this case or if she decides to dismiss the charges before it gets to that point. A decision could be made by late January.

IMO
He was back in town for hearing with short hair and a suit with a bow tie.
What a strange case and his parents have the means for good lawyers. Hope the judge makes the correct choice whatever that is.

 

[savagewoman]

Evidence made public in St. Olaf College case involving suspected mass shooting plan
SBM
Two charges have been dropped against the former St. Olaf student who was initially suspected of planning a mass shooting. Now more evidence is coming out that there was never a plot.
That's exactly what the judge ruled — that there is no evidence of a conspiracy to carry out an attack at St. Olaf College. However, the things campus security found certainly still made them uncomfortable, and new body camera video shows how Kurts was confronted about it.
Kurts is still charged with one count of terroristic threats and it will go to trial unless there is a plea deal. What that charge means, according to the judge, is that Kurts would have known that having those items on campus could cause extreme fear.