Feds deny Patriot Act link to teen held in South Bend - Case stirred Internet rumor mill

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090508/News01/905080315/1130

The U.S. attorney in South Bend says a North Carolina teen's arrest and detainment for allegedly making bomb threats to schools has nothing to do with the U.S. Patriot Act, contrary to swirling Internet rumors.

David Capp issued a statement Thursday saying the FBI had arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with a false bomb threat made Feb. 15 to Purdue University, and similar threats to other schools. Get local breaking news sent to your phone.

Capp said the boy is being held at "a juvenile facility" in the Northern Indiana District. The teen's mother has told a North Carolina TV station that he is being held at St. Joseph County's Juvenile Justice Center in South Bend.

Capp said he has filed a charge alleging violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 844(e), which "prohibits sending false information about an attempt to kill, injure or intimidate any individual or to unlawfully damage any building through an instrument of interstate commerce."

The boy's mother has told WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C., that she believed he was being held under the Patriot Act, the federal law enacted after Sept. 11, 2001, that allows prosecutors to detain terrorism suspects without affording them rights typically granted to suspects, such as the right to be formally charged in a reasonable period of time.

Something about her struck me as a bit odd. That's not a good reason to not believe her, but I always like to hear both sides before I reach a conclusion. I'm sure there is another side to this story and you seem to confirm that.