Threat suspect allowed to go home
<p>David Joseph Lenio appears in Flathead District Court for his arraignment in March. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Prosecutors have agreed to release a Kalispell man facing trial for social media threats against schools and Jews.
David Joseph Lenio, 29, will be released to his father in Grand Rapids, Michigan, according to stipulations reached this week.
Lenio has been charged with felony counts of intimidation and criminal defamation for a series of Tweets that referred to school shootings, some of which mentioned Kalispell schools.
He also Tweeted various hateful remarks aimed at Jews.
In a hearing on Friday in Flathead District Court, defense attorney Brent Getty announced that he reached a deal with prosecutors on a conditional release.
Lenio will be released to his father in Grand Rapids. His father arrived on a flight Friday and the two will drive back to Michigan.
Prosecuting attorney Stacy Boman requested that Lenio be banned from using social media sites during his release. Getty objected, but District Judge Heidi J. Ulbricht accepted the condition.
Lenio is prohibited from posting or using the sites although email is permitted.
Other conditions of his release include a requirement for Lenio to get a mental health evaluation within 30 days and that he doesn’t contact any witnesses.
The trial term was pushed back to Nov. 2. Both sides indicated that they would like more time to prepare for trial.
Lenio has been in the Flathead County Detention Center since mid-February. His case has gained some national attention for the constitutional questions it raises, including free speech and social media issues.
Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.