Freedom High Bomb Plotter Cano Gets 15 Years

The lawyer for the accused Freedom High School bomb plotter had argued his client could not have possibly carried out his murderous plan — something he said was little more than fantasy anyway.

But in the end, things did not work out perfectly for the defense.

Jared Cano was sentenced to 15 years behind bars today, followed by 10 years of probation plus counseling, according to WTSP.com. It could have gone worse for the troubled 18-year-old, however: He was facing up to more than three-dozen years in the slammer. 

A then-17-year-old Cano was arrested in August 2011 after authorities received a tip from an unnamed student about Cano’s intentions to wreak havoc on the first day of the 2011-2012 school year at Freedom — the same school that had expelled him.

The defense had argued that Cano only mentioned the threat to the student and not the school itself, and that the bomb-making materials — shrapnel, tubing, timing devices — would not have actually worked anyway.

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But the judge upheld the charges against Cano, now 18. He had pleaded no contest.

In reference to the bomb attack, Cano had been facing two charges that carry up to 15 years each: threatening to discharge a destructive device, and attempting to discharge a destructive device. He was also facing drug charges for marijuana authorities found when they raided his New Tampa apartment.

Some disturbing cell phone videos released by state attorneys had showed an angry, troubled teen.

"For those of you retards who don't know, I'm the Freedom High School shooter from Tampa, Florida," Cano is reported as saying, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "Well, I will be in a couple months."

What do you think of Cano's sentencing, Lutz? Do you think it is fitting, unfitting? Tell us in the comments section below.