Yates defends virginia beach teen accused of terrorism

Two Virginia Beach Teens Arrested and Charged with Conspiracy to Commit
an Act of Terrorism

On Saturday, June 9, 2018, 2 Virginia Beach teens were arrested charged with conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism at The Westin Hotel, where the Bayside High School prom was being held that night.

It all started when a 17-year-old boy posted a video on Instagram, in which he is thought to have said “ya f****** dead.” After viewing the previous video in which the boy and 18-year-old Michael Coleman were shown handling guns and referencing The Westin, Virginia Beach police interpreted the boy’s statement as a threat, though the boys did not make any references to Bayside High School or prom.

Earlier that night, Coleman had tried to enter prom and was approached
by law enforcement, at which point he ran away and attempted to dispose
of a 9mm gun. The boys were ultimately found in a hotel room at The Westin, where police also found a rifle and ammunition, which were Coleman’s legally owned property, along with multiple bottles of alcohol. After obtaining a warrant and searching the boys’ hotel room while Coleman was away, they arrested the 17-year-old (who was in the room at the time) and charged him with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism.

Attorney Yates Saves Teen from Unfair, Rushed Criminal Charges

With the help of Attorney George Holton Yates, Virginia Beach police dropped the charges. Though Judge Tonya Bullock, who presided over the case, said the videos were troubling and embarrassing for the Virginia Beach community, police could not present sufficient evidence to charge the 17-year-old with conspiracy to commit terrorism. There were no explicit threats against Bayside High School students, nor was there any express desire to harm Bayside students on the night of their prom. As such, police dropped the 17-year-old’s charges.

Skilled Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving Virginia Beach Citizens

At George Holton Yates, Attorneys At Law, P.C., we work hard to make sure all of our clients receive fair treatment when accused of a crime. We are committed to upholding the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and we are prepared to fight back when members of law enforcement rush to bring criminal charges or proceed without sufficient proof. We take special when handling juvenile crimes and work to make sure our juvenile clients receive a fair solution.

Our Virginia Beach criminal defense attorney is prepared to help you review your case and offer the dependable representation you deserve. We offer free consultations and are available to take your calls 24/7.

Call (757) 491-8800 to speak to a member of our team today, or send us an email to schedule your first appointment with us.