In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Unconstitutional Gun furor subsides as Bush exits
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Gun furor subsides as Bush exits
By JOHN RICHARDSON, Portland Press Herald Writer
Christopher Willey waves after being transported to Biddeford District Court on Monday. Willey's bail, originally set at $50,000 was reduced to $500. He pleaded innocent to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and to carrying a loaded gun in a motor vehicle.
BIDDEFORD - A man arrested Friday for bringing a loaded gun to Sanford Regional Airport as President Bush was about to arrive was released from jail on reduced bail Monday after investigators concluded he did not intend to harm or threaten anyone. "Our investigators worked on the case with the Secret Service throughout the weekend," said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. "There is nothing to indicate that this went anything beyond the weapons charge."
Christopher Willey, 38, pleaded innocent Monday to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and to carrying a loaded gun in a motor vehicle. A trial on those misdemeanor charges is scheduled for October. His bail, originally set at $50,000, was reduced to $500.
Willey was arrested Friday outside the airport gates, shortly before the president arrived for a four-day vacation with family in Kennebunkport.
As he arrived for his hearing at Biddeford District Court, Willey smiled and waved to the media and said: "I love my country and I love my president."
Bush left the Sanford airport shortly after noon Monday without incident, although security was visibly increased. State police troopers manned two additional security checkpoints that flanked the Texaco station on Route 109 near where Willey was arrested. In addition, the military and Secret Service presence appeared greater.
Bush, who spent the weekend visiting, playing golf and celebrating his 56th birthday with his parents at the family's Walker's Point compound, issued no public statements during his stay.
Willey spent the weekend in York County Jail on $50,000 cash bail - an extremely high standard for a weapons charge due to the timing and circumstances of his arrest.
Willey was standing with a group of spectators waiting for Bush's arrival when Secret Service agents and state police identified him as suspicious, questioned him and then found a loaded 9 mm handgun in his Ford Thunderbird parked nearby. Willey did not have a permit for the gun, police say.
At first, it was unclear why Willey was identified as suspicious, and police would not say whether they believed Willey had intended to harm the president or anyone else. Investigators interviewed Willey at length after his arrest and searched his home off Route 9 in Wells during the weekend for any evidence that might indicate a criminal plot.
Any suspicions appeared to be resolved on Monday, when Willey appeared in court and his bail was reduced to $500 - a more typical amount for a concealed-weapons charge. He pleaded innocent and answered questions from Judge Andre Janelle about his work schedule and history.
Willey appeared in court about two hours after Bush and his family departed Sanford aboard Air Force One. There were no Secret Service agents in court Monday, a contrast to the swarm of agents who interviewed Willey on Friday at the jail.
While the high-profile case is now being handled more like a routine weapons charge, the circumstances did leave Willey facing some extra pretrial conditions, including an 8 p.m. curfew and a psychological examination. Concealed-weapons charges usually result in fines of $100 to $300, and suspects are usually not held in jail.
McCausland said Willey's explanation for the gun held up the investigation. "He told us he had gone to his brother's house for target practice on July 4" and then left the gun in the car, McCausland said.
As a former carpenter for CPM Construction, a subcontractor working on the Maine Turnpike widening, Willey was not scheduled to work Friday and decided to watch for the president, he said.
McCausland said Secret Service agents became suspicious when Willey went past security checkpoints at the airport and gave conflicting information about what he was doing. McCausland could not elaborate. Willey, who has no criminal record, cooperated with the police and consented to the search of his car, McCausland said.
Family members and people who work at the airport have said Willey is a regular at the cafe in the airport terminal there.
Two family members sat through the court appearance Monday but declined to give their names or be interviewed. They said only that Willey is a good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"It was a misunderstanding," said Dan Veno, Willey's work supervisor since January. Veno came to court as well, saying he wanted to offer moral support.
"He's one of my best employees. He's just a really good guy," Veno said. "Chris goes out of his way to help people."
He said he expects Willey to be back at work today.
Veno said he was shocked to hear that Willey was arrested. He said that carrying a concealed weapon without a permit would have been a minor event if it had not happened near the president. "I'm not sure that's uncommon in the state of Maine, to be honest with you," he said.
Willey's attorney, Michael Scott, would not comment on the case.
Staff Writer Elbert Aull contributed to this story.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at: jrichardson@pressherald.com
http://www.pressherald.com/news/york/020709willey.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By JOHN RICHARDSON, Portland Press Herald Writer
Christopher Willey waves after being transported to Biddeford District Court on Monday. Willey's bail, originally set at $50,000 was reduced to $500. He pleaded innocent to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and to carrying a loaded gun in a motor vehicle.
BIDDEFORD - A man arrested Friday for bringing a loaded gun to Sanford Regional Airport as President Bush was about to arrive was released from jail on reduced bail Monday after investigators concluded he did not intend to harm or threaten anyone. "Our investigators worked on the case with the Secret Service throughout the weekend," said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. "There is nothing to indicate that this went anything beyond the weapons charge."
Christopher Willey, 38, pleaded innocent Monday to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and to carrying a loaded gun in a motor vehicle. A trial on those misdemeanor charges is scheduled for October. His bail, originally set at $50,000, was reduced to $500.
Willey was arrested Friday outside the airport gates, shortly before the president arrived for a four-day vacation with family in Kennebunkport.
As he arrived for his hearing at Biddeford District Court, Willey smiled and waved to the media and said: "I love my country and I love my president."
Bush left the Sanford airport shortly after noon Monday without incident, although security was visibly increased. State police troopers manned two additional security checkpoints that flanked the Texaco station on Route 109 near where Willey was arrested. In addition, the military and Secret Service presence appeared greater.
Bush, who spent the weekend visiting, playing golf and celebrating his 56th birthday with his parents at the family's Walker's Point compound, issued no public statements during his stay.
Willey spent the weekend in York County Jail on $50,000 cash bail - an extremely high standard for a weapons charge due to the timing and circumstances of his arrest.
Willey was standing with a group of spectators waiting for Bush's arrival when Secret Service agents and state police identified him as suspicious, questioned him and then found a loaded 9 mm handgun in his Ford Thunderbird parked nearby. Willey did not have a permit for the gun, police say.
At first, it was unclear why Willey was identified as suspicious, and police would not say whether they believed Willey had intended to harm the president or anyone else. Investigators interviewed Willey at length after his arrest and searched his home off Route 9 in Wells during the weekend for any evidence that might indicate a criminal plot.
Any suspicions appeared to be resolved on Monday, when Willey appeared in court and his bail was reduced to $500 - a more typical amount for a concealed-weapons charge. He pleaded innocent and answered questions from Judge Andre Janelle about his work schedule and history.
Willey appeared in court about two hours after Bush and his family departed Sanford aboard Air Force One. There were no Secret Service agents in court Monday, a contrast to the swarm of agents who interviewed Willey on Friday at the jail.
While the high-profile case is now being handled more like a routine weapons charge, the circumstances did leave Willey facing some extra pretrial conditions, including an 8 p.m. curfew and a psychological examination. Concealed-weapons charges usually result in fines of $100 to $300, and suspects are usually not held in jail.
McCausland said Willey's explanation for the gun held up the investigation. "He told us he had gone to his brother's house for target practice on July 4" and then left the gun in the car, McCausland said.
As a former carpenter for CPM Construction, a subcontractor working on the Maine Turnpike widening, Willey was not scheduled to work Friday and decided to watch for the president, he said.
McCausland said Secret Service agents became suspicious when Willey went past security checkpoints at the airport and gave conflicting information about what he was doing. McCausland could not elaborate. Willey, who has no criminal record, cooperated with the police and consented to the search of his car, McCausland said.
Family members and people who work at the airport have said Willey is a regular at the cafe in the airport terminal there.
Two family members sat through the court appearance Monday but declined to give their names or be interviewed. They said only that Willey is a good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"It was a misunderstanding," said Dan Veno, Willey's work supervisor since January. Veno came to court as well, saying he wanted to offer moral support.
"He's one of my best employees. He's just a really good guy," Veno said. "Chris goes out of his way to help people."
He said he expects Willey to be back at work today.
Veno said he was shocked to hear that Willey was arrested. He said that carrying a concealed weapon without a permit would have been a minor event if it had not happened near the president. "I'm not sure that's uncommon in the state of Maine, to be honest with you," he said.
Willey's attorney, Michael Scott, would not comment on the case.
Staff Writer Elbert Aull contributed to this story.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at: jrichardson@pressherald.com
http://www.pressherald.com/news/york/020709willey.shtml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878