Ohio man accused of plotting school attack pleads not guilty

By M.R. KROPKO, Associated Press Writer

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Lee Billi emails Penn High School student about columbine style attack

Lee Billi, the Ohio man charged in conjunction with plans for a Columbine-style attack at Penn High School, is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley said the 33-year-old Billi, shown here during his booking, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. (AP/Photo provided)

By Tiffany Griffin

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge accusing him of e-mailing an Indiana teenager about conducting a Columbine-style attack on two schools.

Lee Billi, 33, of the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, made no comment during the hearing through a video hookup from jail. His attorney entered the plea on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge set bail at $250,000.

Police in Lakewood have said they don't know how far along the two were in the alleged plan but said Billi and the unidentified 16-year-old were talking about a Columbine-type plot, a reference to the 1999 massacre at a Colorado high school in which two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher and then committed suicide.

Authorities said Billi and the teenager exchanged e-mails on April 20 and discussed mass murders at the teen's school near South Bend, Ind., and at another location, which police haven't identified.

Investigators removed a computer, computer disks, papers, books and three partial boxes of handgun ammunition from Billi's home, authorities said.

At the teen's home in South Bend, authorities said they found more than 100 knives and several illegal snakes. The teen lived in his deceased grandfather's house in a rundown neighborhood scattered with vacant houses.

Authorities said a school officer investigating an unrelated threat at the teen's school, Penn High, had discovered Internet postings in which the teen discussed his support for the Columbine shooters.

Monday, Apr 28 at 3:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

the guy was probably just goofing around and talking out of his rear end...

Monday, Apr 28 at 1:36 PM JUDY M MISHAWAKA wrote ...

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THIS CHILD'S PARENTS, GUARDIANS, OR WHOEVER IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN CHARGE SINCE HE HAS 100 KNIVES AND ILLEGAL SNAKES IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE IS WORRIED ABOUT THIS CHILD NO WONDER KIDS GET IN SO MUCH TROUBLE THESE DAYS. WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS AND IT IS SAD THAT WE CAN'T LOOK UP TO OFFICERS, FIREMEN, PASTORS LIKE WE SHOULD. COME ON EVERYONE WAKE UP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED US.

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