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Mom Who Bought Guns Charged

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By MARYCLAIRE DALE, The Associated Press

Published: October 13, 2007

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A troubled 14-year-old accused of plotting a school attack built up a stash of weapons with the help of his mother, authorities said Friday.

Michele Cossey, 46, was arrested Friday, accused of illegally buying her home-schooled son, Dillon, a .22-caliber handgun, .22-caliber rifle and 9 mm semiautomatic rifle with a laser scope.

His parents were indulging the boy's interests because he was unhappy, not knowingly aiding a school assault, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said. The mother did not know of the teen's plans, but 'by virtue of her indulgence, she enabled him to get in this position,' Castor said.

Authorities have said they do not think an attack was imminent and are not certain one would have occurred.

'This was a smart kid that clearly believes he was picked on and was a victim,' Castor said. 'He had psychological issues and began to act out on those feelings.'

Dillon, who was arrested Wednesday, felt bullied and tried to recruit another boy for a possible attack at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, authorities said. The teen previously attended middle school in the district but had been taught at home for more than a year after voluntarily leaving school.

Acting on a tip from a high school student and his father, police searched the boy's bedroom and found the 9 mm rifle, about 30 air-powered guns modeled to look like higher-powered weapons, swords, knives, a bomb-making book, videos of the 1999 Columbine attack in Colorado and violence-filled notebooks, Castor said.

Michele Cossey bought the semiautomatic rifle at a gun show Sept. 23 and provided police with a receipt, investigators said in court papers. The teenager said the two .22-caliber weapons were stored at a friend's house.

The mother was charged with unlawful transfer of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor, corruption of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of reckless endangerment. She was released on bail later. She did not comment at the hearing.

Her attorney, Tim Woodward, said, 'I'm sure she loves her kid.'

The teen, who also had a brief court appearance Friday, was ordered held at a juvenile facility while he undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. He was charged with solicitation to commit terror and other counts, but his lawyer, J. David Farrell, stressed that all but one of the weapons prosecutors put on display were pellet guns and air rifles.

It is legal for children to possess air guns in Pennsylvania. Farrell also noted it is legal for a minor to fire weapons under adult supervision and said he did not think the students at Plymouth Whitemarsh were in danger.

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