A Torrance judge gave the defense attorney, of the former student who allegedly threatened to kill his teacher, time to submit a psychologist’s report in court on May 2, Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott said.
Dashiell Porter, 28, former theater major, is due back in court on May 13, after judge T.K. Herman delayed the ruling on Porter’s case.
“We have a pretty strong case against him,” Bott said. “This should be over by the end of summer.”
Porter is being charged with seven counts of criminal threats, which are based on threatening to kill his English professor Cynthia Somin.
“We have him admitting to the charges in a recording,” Bott said.
Porter was in Somin’s English 1A class, and after receiving a grade, he sent his first threat on Jan. 6, 2015, according to the temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against him on Dec. 30, 2015.
“You (expletive) (expletive) (expletive)” Porter messaged Somin at 10:17 a.m., according to the TRO.
According to the TRO, Porter sent 13 more messages with the same threatening standpoint.
“I’m coming to kill you tomorrow!!!! (Gun’s loaded),” Porter’s final message said on Dec. 8, 2015.
Following the January court date, Porter was released on $350,000 bail and was due in court March 15, where his attorney asked the court for more time to prepare the defense’s case.
What Bott said should happen, considering the strength of his case against Porter, is that the defense will most likely settle and the district attorney’s office will dismiss certain charges so that Porter pleads guilty to at least one charge.
Now the defense will try to submit a psychologist’s report for the May 13 hearing.
