Jonathan Grant Thompson, the man behind the popular science-focused YouTube channel King of Random has been charged with two counts of second-degree felony possession of an explosive device.
Thompson, 37, runs the King of Random YouTube channel, boasting about 200 videos and 8.9 million subscribers. His videos are of science experiments and are in the vein of science-based shows on networks such as the Discovery Channel.
Thompson has been making videos and putting them on YouTube since 2010. His videos have garnered more than 1.6 billion combined views.
According to the article the first complaint "resulted from a citizen complaint via Facebook Messenger on June 15 about Thompson exploding a dry ice bomb", and for the second:
Thompson said a friend had left him a bag of powder, which he believed to be from a deconstructed firework.
After lighting a couple of small "control fires" Thompson and Timothy Burgess, 20, of Ontario, Canada, ignited a larger pile which exploded, the police report states. According to the report, firefighters heard the explosion from the nearby fire station.
Google Maps shows there is a South Jordan fire station 0.2 miles from Thompson's home.
The explosion left Burgess with small particles of burned material embedded in his arms, charges say.
Burgess was charged with one count of second-degree felony possession of an explosive device. Court records show prosecutors have asked a judge to issue a $15,000 warrant for his arrest
Originally spotted via AvE's channel.
(Score: 2) by arcz on Thursday January 18 2018, @10:31PM (18 children)
While explosives obviously should be protected under the 11th Amendment, they aren't.
That being said, this charge is ridiculous and the prosecutor ought to be shot. Good thing I don't live nearby.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Snow on Thursday January 18 2018, @10:35PM (6 children)
He from Ontario. Your amendments are meaningless here.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @01:00AM (3 children)
Our amendments do not grant rights to the people. Our government does not grant rights to the people. As understood by the framers of our constitution, the rights are granted by God.
We added the amendments as extra assurance. The amendments place redundant restrictions on government. This is not quite the same as granting rights to the people.
So a person in Ontario does have these rights. They are however being violated by his government.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @03:13AM (1 child)
Then your rights are fairy tale. Just like the fairy tale that they think granted them.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @04:05PM
So I guess that means you don't want yours, right?
(Score: 2) by arcz on Friday January 19 2018, @09:12PM
(Score: 3, Informative) by http on Friday January 19 2018, @02:51AM
From Canada, but in Utah. The accused doesn't have that much venue choice.
I browse at -1 when I have mod points. It's unsettling.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @03:04AM
This happened in Utah. Grant is from there and lives there. I have been watching his vids for a long time. He usually has his ducks all lined up before anything goes wrong. He has done this many times before. He even said in the interview that people from the local police and fire department watch his video and he has a relationship with them.
My *guess* someone new moved into the neighborhood. Got all pissy and went all HOA on them. The HoA was like go away so the guy got police involved. Grant strikes me as 'the nice guy' in the neighborhood. That will not end will for 'the new guy'.
(Score: 1, Troll) by arcz on Thursday January 18 2018, @10:35PM (1 child)
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @02:09AM
You were right the first time, you ammosexual wanker!
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Thursday January 18 2018, @11:31PM (7 children)
"Obviously"?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 4, Touché) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday January 19 2018, @12:22AM (2 children)
The guys who wrote the amendment in question personally owned cannons.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @02:12AM (1 child)
*Citation Needed*
And, more details? Smoothbore, or rifled? Breechloading? Round ball, or canister, or chain? Marine, or terrestrial? Professional, or amateur? And who are you talking about? Hamilton? Was his cannon nothing but a large caliber piece?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @03:38AM
big ones... the kind with wheels on the side, pulled by horses
Look, what does the exact type matter? That doesn't place a limit on the second amendment.
Or, if you insist that it does: the type was "very latest modern military technology", and thus our second amendment gives us everything from stealth bombers to ICBMs.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by arcz on Friday January 19 2018, @12:43AM (3 children)
(Score: 4, Interesting) by arcz on Friday January 19 2018, @12:53AM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by turgid on Friday January 19 2018, @10:45AM
Democracy is 17 million turkeys voting for Christmas whether the others want it or not.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Friday January 19 2018, @08:09PM
It tends to mean whatever whoever is currently quoting it wants it to. It's not even 30 words. There's a lot of room for semantic manoeuvring. If it was that "obvious" there wouldn't be such a ruckus about it all the time.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 19 2018, @04:42PM
Pretty sure the 11th isn't relevant to the case. He isn't suing another state.