Defense: Stevenson High attack threat was a joke

A former Barrington High School student who posted a message on the Internet saying "many will die on 10/31 at Stevenson High School" never intended it to be taken seriously, his attorney said Tuesday.

In fact, the attorney said, Jeremie Dalin didn't even know where Stevenson High was located when he posted the message.

Dalin, 17, of Fox River Grove is on trial in Lake County circuit court on a charge of falsely making a terrorist threat, a felony that could send him to prison for as many as 15 years if he's convicted

The case centers on a posting Dalin admits he placed on a Web site hosting discussions on a wide variety of topics just before midnight Oct. 29.

In that message, Dalin targets a high school name he says he found on the Internet and pretends to be an abused student.

"In all my years at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, I have been picked on, bullied and taken down," the message states. "I plan to take revenge and many will die on 10/31."

The message was spotted by a Stevenson student who copied it and took it to school officials the next day.

Even worse for Dalin, the message was also noted by the FBI's anti-terrorism squad, which traced it to Dalin's computer before the day was out.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton told the jury seated before Associate Judge Christopher Stride she believed the case against Dalin was iron-clad.

"He admitted to the FBI that he posted the message, and he admitted to Lincolnshire police that he posted it," Stanton said during her opening statement. "His computer was searched by experts, and the message was found inside."

All of which defense attorney Michael Levinsohn said is true, except for his contention Dalin never meant it to be taken seriously.

Levinsohn said the Web site is host to "mostly disgusting, off-color" comments and conversations, and warns against readers taking anything seriously.

"There is a warning on the site that says the postings are 'artistic words of fiction,"' Levinsohn said. "It says, 'Only a fool would take anything written here as fact.'"

Dalin told investigators he chose the name of the school only because he believed the school was in New York, and had no idea a Stevenson High School was less than 15 miles from his home.

Levinsohn said Dalin also removed the message after about nine minutes when some of the responses posted indicated people were taking it seriously.

Testimony is expected to continue today.