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For stating “There will be hell to pay,” Bill Maisano was sentenced today to two years’ incarceration, execution suspended, and two years’ probation by New Haven Superior Court Judge Ann Lawlor. Within minutes of being sentenced, Maisano filed an appeal.
Maisano wrote to Guilford High School Principal Julia Chaffe that “There will be hell to pay.” Maisano was criticizing a teacher’s rainbow hair display at graduation on religious freedom grounds. Maisano immediately pointed out that he meant there would be negative media coverage.
Maisano was convicted of threatening in the second degree, a felony offense.
Maisano is the father of two children at Guildford High School. He is a twenty-year veteran of the Guilford Police Department and four-year veteran of the Air Force, as well as a devout Christian.
Connecticut free speech attorney Mario Cerame is representing Maisano in his appeal. “Guilford High School abandoned its obligation to teach children how to engage in policy debate. Instead, the school teaches students that it is easier to just silence your critics.”
On the legal issue, Cerame clarified, “The issue is not whether someone could see ‘there will be hell to pay’ as a threat. The legal test is whether a reasonable person unambiguously would understand the phrase as a threat of physical violence. Otherwise the First Amendment protects the speech.”
The case has stirred up considerable controversy. Maisano’s trial attorney, Dave Cutillo, pointed out that his office received multiple death threats during the case.
“This case should have been dismissed,” said Cerame, citing State v. Krijger.
For Maisano, the case about the right of parents to advocate for how their children are raised as well as a matter of religious freedom. “We will fight for the right for every parent to freely and without fear exercise their First Amendment right and redress grievances with public school officials,” said Maisano in a prepared statement after sentencing.
Mario Cerame is a free speech and appellate attorney in Hartford, Connecticut with Brignole, Bush and Lewis. Cerame’s website is speechdefense.com.
You can support Maisano's appeal here: https://www.givesendgo.com/GB4UK
How ya likin’ the Matrix folks?
All sterile and safe, tolerant and non-judgmental.
As managed by the “pseudo-educated” among us.
You should just abandon those Christian principles you value, join the abomination celebration and shut your pie-hole.
What?
Hate speech?
Remember, there are things that even the good Lord hates.