NEWS

South Burlington death-threat suspect pleads not guilty

Elizabeth Murray, and Nicole Higgins DeSmet
Burlington Free Press

South Burlington school threats suspect Josiah Leach pleaded not guilty via a federal waiver without appearing in federal court on Friday as scheduled before Judge John M. Conroy in Burlington.

Josiah Leach leaves U.S. District Court in Burlington on Thursday, April 27, 2017.  Leach is accused of making the death threats that shut down South Burlington High School for several days.

Leach, 18, is accused of emailing a "murder list" on  April 20 targeting 11 students and five staff members. The charge carries up to five years in prison, according to Eugenia A.P. Cowles the acting U.S. Attorney for Vermont.

Leach's lawyer Elizabeth Quinn requested 90 days to prepare for the trial due to the complexity of the case. Quinn said federal investigators are still analyzing electronic devices related to the case.

Attorney Michael Drescher, representing the U.S., had no objections.

Judge Conroy said the case would be heard by Judge Geoffrey Crawford in Rutland and that documents related to the case must be submitted to the court before Aug. 14.

On Thursday, Patrick Phillips, interim principal at South Burlington High School, declined to say whether Josiah Leach is still a student at the school. He referred comment to the South Burlington School District Superintendent's Office. A representative from that office did not return a request for Leach's current status.

"I can't comment on student issues," Phillips said. "But I can tell you that if you look at the conditions of release, I think you can read between the lines and see what's going on."

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Leach's conditions of release prohibit him from coming within 500 feet of South Burlington High or Middle schools and from having any contact with South Burlington High School community members. Phillips said that generally, the school works with students who are suspended from school or disciplined for a period of time to come up with an educational plan.

"Oftentimes, that goes in a variety of directions," Phillips said. "Sometimes the move is toward expulsion, and that typically is an expulsion for a calendar year."

Quinn also declined an interview on behalf of her client, but emailed a statement in response to questions.​

"This is a complex case and we are not in a position to comment on the allegations at this time," Quinn said. "Josiah is a young man who has lived in this area his whole life. As a member of the South Burlington community, he is sympathetic to the concerns and anxieties of his community. He has been, and will continue to, abide by the conditions of his release.​"

Phillips confirmed that Leach had not attended South Burlington High School for all four years. Leach's father, Edward Leach, said his son attended Burlington schools from childhood. Edward Leach said he was unsure when his son moved schools since the last time they had been in touch was when Josiah Leach was 16. At that point, his son was still living in Burlington with his mother, Edward Leach said.

Edward Leach said he and Josiah Leach's mother separated in about 2010. Edward Leach said his son was "just a normal kid" without any personality problems when he was growing up. He said he was raising Josiah Leach and his older siblings as Jehovah's Witnesses, and that he remembers singing with his kids and playing the piano. He said he believes his son's interest in music comes from that experience and from watching Edward Leach produce his own music videos for YouTube.

Josiah Leach goes by the rapper name "Potent Jo," and he has both a Facebook page and YouTube channel devoted to his rap music.

"At a very young age, he began to record himself rapping on tape recorders, karaoke machines, and other electronics he could find to record on," states the bio on Josiah Leach's "Potent Jo" Facebook page. "He began producing instrumentals at age 11, but then decided to start get serious about rapping at age 13. After going through tough times with the law, he was then put on house arrest and was left with nothing but school work, a laptop, and a microphone in his bedroom."

Edward Leach said he thinks his son is talented and was pleased to see his interest in music — though he said he does not like some of his son's lyrics.

"I believe he's really got some talent," Edward Leach said. "I wish he would write more positive lyrics."

After the separation, Edward Leach says he and his children had little contact. He lives in Tennessee now. He said the last time he spoke to Josiah Leach was about two years ago after Josiah Leach had reached out to his grandmother to find Edward Leach.

Edward Leach said he is sympathetic to the South Burlington High School community members and families who were frightened by the threats — especially those on the so-called "murder list" that authorities say Josiah Leach circulated. However, said he hopes the court system will recognize how young his son is and will refrain from giving him a lengthy sentence so his son can work to make the situation right.

"Even though he's 18, he's still a kid," Edward Leach said. "He needs to have a chance in life. ... If you throw him in jail and throw the key away, then you're actually creating more of a problem. He's going to think that the whole world just gave up on him. He's still got hopes and dreams burning inside, and he has the potential to do what's right."

Josiah Leach's mother, Joy McKenzie, declined multiple attempts to speak to her outside court after her son's two hearings. An attempt to reach her through Facebook message was also unsuccessful.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.