2008 Woodie Awards
Student held on $1 million bond
Charges filed include three felonies, one misdemeanor
Megan McClure
Issue date: 7/25/07 Section: News
An SIUE student is being held on $1 million bond after being charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor.
SIUE Police impounded a vehicle Friday after it had been left along North University Drive for two days. Inside the car, which was registered to Olutosin O. Oduwole, officers found a handwritten note that included threats of violence against a university unless certain conditions were met. No specific threat against SIUE was made.
"Although no threat has been conveyed or delivered at this point, we are staying directly involved in this investigation and will act accordingly if and when an actual or perceived threat becomes apparent," SIUE Police Chief Regina Hays said in a statement.
While processing information regarding the impoundment, police discovered an outstanding warrant for Oduwole by the Wood River Police Department. According to Conroy, Oduwole was associated with an ongoing investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Oduwole, an undeclared freshman originally from Maplewood, N.J., was arrested Friday in his Cougar Village apartment by the SIUE Police. He was charged by the Wood River Police Department for theft over $300 and computer fraud, both felony charges.
According to Conroy, the two charges allege that the suspect acquired $1,000 after listing an item he did not own or possess on an online auction site.
The Wood River Police Department confiscated computers and a small-caliber handgun from Oduwole's apartment while executing a search warrant Friday.
The Madison County State's Attorney's office filed misdemeanor charges of unauthorized possession of a weapon on state property Tuesday.
In regards to the note found in Oduwole's vehicle, the State's Attorney's office filed charges Tuesday for allegedly attempting to make a terrorist threat, a Class I felony.
"We can't find any evidence that the threat was delivered," Conroy said. "That's why it's 'attempted.'"
According to the Nov. 1, 2005, issue of the Alestle, Oduwole was arrested in October 2005 and charged with misdemeanor telephone access charge fraud after a biology professor's STAN?number was used to call Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Oduwole remains in custody at the Madison County Jail, where he awaits an arraignment hearing and court date. According to Conroy, the university is cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigations to assess whether a potential or real threat to the university exists.
"At this point, we are confident that the SIUE Police Department and the federal agencies are taking any and all steps necessary to properly address the situation," Hays said in the statement. "We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the prosecuting authorities in their prosecution of the pending criminal charges against Oduwole. We will keep the university community updated in the event new information comes to light."
SIUE Police impounded a vehicle Friday after it had been left along North University Drive for two days. Inside the car, which was registered to Olutosin O. Oduwole, officers found a handwritten note that included threats of violence against a university unless certain conditions were met. No specific threat against SIUE was made.
"Although no threat has been conveyed or delivered at this point, we are staying directly involved in this investigation and will act accordingly if and when an actual or perceived threat becomes apparent," SIUE Police Chief Regina Hays said in a statement.
While processing information regarding the impoundment, police discovered an outstanding warrant for Oduwole by the Wood River Police Department. According to Conroy, Oduwole was associated with an ongoing investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Oduwole, an undeclared freshman originally from Maplewood, N.J., was arrested Friday in his Cougar Village apartment by the SIUE Police. He was charged by the Wood River Police Department for theft over $300 and computer fraud, both felony charges.
According to Conroy, the two charges allege that the suspect acquired $1,000 after listing an item he did not own or possess on an online auction site.
The Wood River Police Department confiscated computers and a small-caliber handgun from Oduwole's apartment while executing a search warrant Friday.
The Madison County State's Attorney's office filed misdemeanor charges of unauthorized possession of a weapon on state property Tuesday.
In regards to the note found in Oduwole's vehicle, the State's Attorney's office filed charges Tuesday for allegedly attempting to make a terrorist threat, a Class I felony.
"We can't find any evidence that the threat was delivered," Conroy said. "That's why it's 'attempted.'"
According to the Nov. 1, 2005, issue of the Alestle, Oduwole was arrested in October 2005 and charged with misdemeanor telephone access charge fraud after a biology professor's STAN?number was used to call Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Oduwole remains in custody at the Madison County Jail, where he awaits an arraignment hearing and court date. According to Conroy, the university is cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigations to assess whether a potential or real threat to the university exists.
"At this point, we are confident that the SIUE Police Department and the federal agencies are taking any and all steps necessary to properly address the situation," Hays said in the statement. "We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the prosecuting authorities in their prosecution of the pending criminal charges against Oduwole. We will keep the university community updated in the event new information comes to light."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
What the?!
posted 7/25/07 @ 4:51 PM CST
Has it dawned on anyone that this is going on the third fraternity president to be accused of a felony? Let's recap, shall we? A hate crime by Rardin spray painting the slur on the rock; Andrew Stone threatening the school with a bomb threat and now Oduwole with his VT copycat threat. (Continued…)
radtec
posted 8/08/07 @ 1:14 PM CST
After reading all the opinions, I went back to the original article to recap just what this person has going against him at this time.
-Telephone access fraud (charged/found guilty)
-Outstanding warrant (unknown reason) brought on arrest
-Part of an ongoing investigation by the BATF. (Continued…)
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