Charles Raymond Bird, 20, appeared in court the morning of Dec. 17, but had his arraignment delayed at the request of his lawyer to allow for more time to review the case. The arraignment date has been moved to Jan. 14 in Judge Dodie Harman’s courtroom, according to The Tribune.
Bird is being charged with a felony of criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement, in connection with a death threat sent to another Cal Poly student. If found guilty, Bird could face up to a six-year sentence, according to an email from Assistant District Attorney Lee V. Cunningham.
Bird could also face academic repercussions ranging from suspension and loss of financial aid to expulsion.
The threat was sent to political science sophomore and SLO Solidarity leader Matt Klepfer in response to the demands made by SLO Solidarity to Cal Poly administration. Klepfer received the threat via Facebook on Dec. 1 and alerted University Police Department (UPD), which then made the arrest after a thorough investigation.
The threat did not decrease the momentum of SLO Solidarity — it instead prompted two protests — and members are still striving to create a more inclusive and welcoming campus for underrepresented groups.