Comments about ‘Feds object to man's release in LDS temple shooting plot’

Why are judges so willing to unleash obviously disturbed people into the public? Group home or not and medication will not guarantee this man will not harm himself or someone else. This man needs to be kept in custody for his own and the public's safety.

It seems he didn't do anything. He just had some serious personal problems and went to solve them in the right place.

What was Judge Alba thinking??? Is it because the threat was against an LDS Temple and its patrons??

Thank heavens someone had the good sense to have this silly release order immediately overturned!

How about the judge let him come stay at her house while he waits for trial. This is the most absurd thing I have ever heard!! A man wants to shoot people so lets put him in a halfway house where he may or may not get his meds, be able to escape, and harm others. Judges are half the problem of the justice system.

Did his attorney really want to put him back in his house with his family after he admitted that he was wanting to kill them? Is it just me or is that a "Here's your sign" moment. How can people be so oblivious to what is going on around them that will effect so many people in such a negative way?

You think he did nothing wrong? Haha that is humorous he made serious threats to kill his WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW and he was caught with way more ammunition and weapons necessary for your average mass murder. To me this should be enough to be locked up. You just don't make threats like that.

When a mentally ill defendant has shown by his words and actions that he is a danger to himself and others around him, the safest thing to do is to keep him in lock-up custody until further testing and counseling can be done.

We have had too many instances where a mentally troubled young man buys weapons, concocts a plan to use them to kill others and/or himself, and then executes that plan. Surely this judge knows that.

There must be more to this story than is reported.

Federal Prosecutors say Speakman is an "extreme risk" to the community. But that's not what the mental health professionals state who have observed him for 9 days and released him. Don't forget he turned himself in and did NOT commit the atrocities that Carol Dain refers to when she talks about Columbine or Trolley Square. This is not the same situation. Judge Aba followed professional medical experts who represented that Speakman could be kept under sufficient supervision in a halfway house with medication. Give the guy a break, he sought medical help and didn't shoot anyone!

Robert, you're right, "there must be more to this story than is reported." Judge Alba was doing the right thing. The reactionary press wants to have a story to sell, and perhaps the federal prosecutors are using this to further their political ambitions. The Speakman family knows the background that doesn't make it into the papers. This man will do well with proper medication and supervision, but not in jail. He turned himself in voluntarily and did not commit the atrocity, yet it seems prosecutors want to scare the public into thinking he had acted on his darkest thoughts.

Prosectors Over React!

Perhaps you would like to "give the guy a break" and invite him to stay wity YOUR family during the course of his legal proceedings? Listen to yourself!

N. Van Horn. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You don't think he did anything wrong? You don't think he isn't a danger to society? WOW!!!!! Just for your information it is illegal to have a sawed off shot gun. It is illegal to have a non-registered gun. He confessed his intentions. The only reason someone would have a sawed off shot gun is to kill. And the gun was already loaded. He also had an AK-47 with 200 rounds. What if this guy lived next door to you under the same circumstances except he wanted to kill you. Would you still want him released?

This judge needs to be removed from the bench because he is a danger to society.

IF you can convict people on thoughts - there is alot of us that should be in jail for thinking about that annoying pesky neighbor and how you would love to "Hurt them". If we do not act out on our thoughts - How can you hold people accountable for them. He recognized he had problems and got help! He seemed to cry out for help, but there is also hope for him to be stabilized!

If you weren't in the court room today, hearing the true facts, than you really have no basis to comment. The media always hypes things up, leaves out important facts and twists things to sell their story. Judge Alba was very wise and careful as he considered all of the actual facts (rather than the skewed facts the media has put forth). The judge was very careful to address the safety of the community in his ruling. At the same time he recognized and commented that Speakman brought himself in for treatment and did not act on the thoughts that were going through his head. The police did NOT uncover his "plot." He turned himself in VOLUNTARILY and asked for help! He did the right thing - he went for help! When someone cries out for help and is cooperative and willing to do the right thing, than they deserve our help. Mental health care is what he needs - not prison.

Judge Alba is the longest serving federal magistrate. Before that, he was a prosecutor in the United States Attorney's office noted for his trial skills and ethics. Ms. Dain is a new Assistant United States Attorney with no felony experience. Whose judgement should you trust?

Reply to Anonymous -- I realize you have only the information the media has relayed to you to make your judgement. If what the media portrays were true, I'd probably feel the same way. But there is much more to it that isn't reported. Judge Alba has the experience and professional judgment to be trusted in his recommendations for Speakman. He has proven himself with years of wise decisions. Whereas the inexperienced Ms. Dain, on the other hand, is taking the easy road that the media would promulgate. It sells more papers!! Yes he needs some very strong mental health care and close supervision, but jail time will only hurt him rather than help him heal. Yes he had ammunition, and weaponry, but again -- he did NOT act on his plans, and he VOLUNTARILY turned himself in for mental health care. There is a BIG difference there! Don't "throw him away" for greater crimes which he did NOT commit!!!

Speakman went to a mental health facility asking for help because he did not want to act on his disturbing thoughts. The judge on this case was not swayed by the Feds sensationalistic comparison to Columbine (what a cheap shot by the Feds)! Rather, the judge recognized Speakman's need for additional therapy. Detention would only provide medication. The half-way house would provide sorely needed therapy and medication; as well as 24 hour surveillance. People should get the true facts before they condemn others. Don't fall prey to the sensational points the media highlights. Media hype ain't always "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!"

If this individual had threatened that he was going to shoot up the airport or an elementary school would he have been moved to a halfway house?

If he had even mentioned "airport" I believe he would have been immediately put under law enforcement supervision, not at a half-way house.

The thought of a "rampage" upon the temple is terrible to think of, and we're all grateful this didn't happen. I'm also grateful that Benjamin trusted that psychiatric help was available at the Mental Health Facility to help him avoid carrying out his darkest thoughts. He voluntarily sought that help, and turned himself in for that help. This is a young man who grew up in a good family, but couldn't deal with hard knocks in life and mental health issues alone. If he is going to get better, he needs close supervision of mental health providers. Simply throwing him in jail will not heal this man. I hope the new Court will also see that he receives the mental health care he needs, all be it under close supervision. He is "salvageable" as a child of God. But mishandling of him can be detrimental to his recovery. I pray he will be given the treatment, supervision, and compassion he is crying out for. My prayers also go out to his family.

I have never met Speakman and I certainly don't have access to all the "facts" of this case. I am willing to bet the majority of DesNews readers don't, either. So here's what I recommend: TAKE THE SAFEST ROUTE. That's lock-up, no doubt about it.

If Speakman's locked up and kept well away from any firearms, someone is responsible for ensuring that he's taking his meds, he has access to family visits and care, and he's being counseled and evaluated to assess his progress, that's the proper course of action.

Those who are mentally ill--as Speakman is--need help in the most appropriate form it can be given, yes. But as long as there's the LEAST RISK that his violent threats would ever be acted out, it's most reasonable to take measures to prevent that. So it's wisest to care for him by treating his mental health--and care for society by making sure he's no longer a danger to it.

What else is there to discuss?