February 19, 2018 at 5:38 p.m.
Teen who made terrorist threats at NPHS draws probation
Christopher M. Berber was sentenced Feb. 5 after pleading no contest to making terrorist threats, a Class I felony, making a threat to a law enforcement officer, a Class H felony, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Berber was charged May 15, 2017 after he was overheard talking to other students about wanting to "shoot up the school on the last day."
As part of a plea deal worked out between Berber's attorney Courtney Jolin and district attorney Martha Milanowski, Berber pled no contest to the two felonies and the disorderly conduct charge before Vilas County circuit judge Neal Nielsen. Nielsen ordered Berber to serve 18 months of probation on the misdemeanor and deferred entry of judgment on the felonies.
Nielsen also ordered Berber to participate in restorative justice, to write a letter of apology to the school district, have no contact with the Northland Pines School District campus (to include the charter school or anywhere where school functions occur), continue his education or maintain full-time employment. He also fined Berber $443.
Berber can petition for expungement of the conviction if he successfully completes probation, according to court records.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, a NPHS student went to principal Scott Foster on May 9, 2017 to report they had overheard Berber talking with two other students at lunch. The student alleged Berber was telling his lunchmates "we should shoot up the school on the last day." There would be no security and all we would have to do is shoot Deputy Neff in the head," referring to the school resource officer Eric Neff.
When questioned by Neff and the dean of students, the witness said Berber allegedly said "anyone who wanted to join in would be allowed and we could get more people that way."
According to the complaint, another student who was seated in the area, while not confirming the exact words, said "the person doing most of the talking" was Berber and they heard them talking about "guns" and "heard the word shootings."
When a search warrant was executed on Berber's home, investigators found a large quantity of "realistic looking BB pistols, BB rifles and BB ammunition" along with an inoperable .22 caliber rifle and ammunition.
In addition, deputies found numerous items of drug paraphernalia and marijuana seeds in both the residence and the car in which Berber had been traveling.
The terrorist threat charge carried a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 while the other felony charge carried a 3.5-year prison and $10,000 maximum sentence upon conviction.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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