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Former SUNY Potsdam student facing felony charges after indictment for April 2015 threatening messages to professor

Posted 9/19/16

CANTON – A former student at SUNY Potsdam has been formally charged for allegedly sending two messages to a professor that included death threats and racist and homophobic language. Amjad Hussain …

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Former SUNY Potsdam student facing felony charges after indictment for April 2015 threatening messages to professor

Posted

CANTON – A former student at SUNY Potsdam has been formally charged for allegedly sending two messages to a professor that included death threats and racist and homophobic language.

Amjad Hussain of Elmira has been indicted in St. Lawrence County Court on two felony counts of second degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime and one count of fourth degree criminal solicitation.

Hussain is charged with delivering two messages in April 2015 to the professor that included threats against the professor’s family. Hussain is also charged with soliciting another individual to deliver a third threatening note to the professor.

“Nobody should be made to feel unsafe or subject to harassment in their workplace, least of all our state’s hardworking, dedicated teachers,” New York Attorney General Schneiderman said in announcing the indictments. “This indictment sends the message, loud and clear, that racist and homophobic threats will be treated with the utmost concern, and those responsible for such harassment will be held accountable.”

According to filed documents and statements made in court today, twice in April 2015, Hussain, 23, of Elmira, delivered two notes to the professor’s office containing with homophobic and racist pictures and language, threatening physical harm and death to the professor and the professor’s family.

Following his arrest in November 2015, Hussain allegedly recruited another person to deliver a third note, also containing threats and racist and homophobic language directed at the professor.

Hussain faces up to four years in state prison on each felony count if convicted.

He was arraigned today before Judge Derek P. Champagne in St. Lawrence County Court.

Hussain pleaded not guilty and was released under probation supervision with while an order of protection was drawn up for the benefit of the victim.

The next court date is Oct. 11 at noon.

Schneiderman thanked SUNY Potsdam University Police and the New York State Police for their work on this case.