October 30, 2001

10:12 AM

Washed-up movie actor C. Thomas Howell is on trial today for "making a terrorist threat" while beating up a skateboarder. I always knew there was something I didn't like about him.
posted by nicwolff (30 comments total)

and the 'terrorist threat' was... ?
posted by rebeccablood at 10:15 AM on October 30, 2001

I don't know. From what little information is here, it sounds like one man's word against another. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy is trying to bilk Howell out of some dough.
posted by jpoulos at 10:22 AM on October 30, 2001

Beating up mimes and skateboarders is only a misdemeanor here in a Nebraska. Oh, and we can smoke in our parks.
posted by RavinDave at 10:22 AM on October 30, 2001

I saw this article earlier today and had the same concerns. The incident in question happened on December 9th (presumably of last year) and I have to wonder if he was charged with the "terrorist threat" then or if it came later, due in part to an overzealous DA who saw a pretty window and decided to jump out it.

Methinks we are going to see this more. In the irrational fear that is gripping the USA, we will find terrorists much like Isabel and Ferdinand's Inquisition found Jews wherever they looked.
posted by Dagobert at 10:29 AM on October 30, 2001

What was the threat? He was going to use a hammer on a guy? If that qualifies as terrorist activity, this will totally be a war without a real enemy and without end. Hopefully this was just bad reporting.
posted by holycola at 10:33 AM on October 30, 2001

Buuuuurn Him!!!
posted by fluxcreative at 10:34 AM on October 30, 2001

I'm pretty sure Ponyboy said, "Ain't nobody gonna call the fuzz in this neighborhood, cuz they know better!
posted by Tacodog at 10:34 AM on October 30, 2001

> I always knew there was something I didn't like about him.

You mean, besides "Soul Man." And "Red Dawn?"
posted by nance at 10:38 AM on October 30, 2001

Looks like Hackman got into a little road skirmish too. Getting popped in the face by Lex Luthor. What a thrill that would be!
posted by sexymofo at 10:41 AM on October 30, 2001

...we will find terrorists much like Isabel and Ferdinand's Inquisition found Jews wherever they looked.

Well, I wasn't expecting a sort of....Spanish Inquistion!
posted by MrBaliHai at 10:43 AM on October 30, 2001

Completely unrelated, but isn't Thirstin Howl the best nom de rap that you've ever heard?
posted by skwm at 10:47 AM on October 30, 2001

unless he is being prosecuted under a Federal law, that's yellow journalism(or the modern day equivalent). the term 'terrorist threat' is not on the books in the California Penal Code.
posted by donkeysuck at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2001

i don't think Pony's crime falls under any of these designations.
posted by donkeysuck at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2001

For a "washed up" actor, Howell sure seems to have been pretty busy since Red Dawn. Too bad no one has ever heard of ANY of those movies.
posted by bob bisquick at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2001

Washed-up? What do you mean, washed-up? You dare to defile the star of Grandview, USA and Red Dawn by calling him...calling...BWAH-HA-HA! Darn...I almost made it without laughing.
posted by byort at 10:57 AM on October 30, 2001

I know someone who was charged with making "terrorist threats" to his wife. This was several years ago in California. I don't know the exact details of the charge, but I remember that phrase being used. So, in Pony Boy's case, I would assume that the terrorist threat would be him saying "I'll kill you if you call the police."
posted by witchstone at 11:23 AM on October 30, 2001

Well, I wasn't expecting a sort of....Spanish Inquistion!

NO ONE expects the Spanish Inquisition! Among our weaponry are:...
posted by ColdChef at 11:41 AM on October 30, 2001

You mean, besides "Soul Man." And "Red Dawn?"

Can you believe that "Soul Man" actually got made? WTF were they thinking?
posted by jpoulos at 11:46 AM on October 30, 2001

California lawyer here -- donkeysuck, sure it is. Penal Code section 422. Very common offense. Basically it involves threatening to commit a crime that would result in death or great bodily injury, even if you don't have any intent of carrying it out, in a way that would cause the person to whom the threat is made to reasonably fear for their safety. It's what we call a "wobbler" -- meaning it could be a felony or a misdemeanor depending on how it's prosecuted -- and in its felony incarnation, it recently became a strike for purposes of California's three strikes law.

It just means he threatened to kill the guy, or beat the hell out of him, or something along those lines. I have handled dozens of these cases and not one of them had anything to do with terrorism -- usually it's an ex-boyfriend making a threat to his old girlfriend or her new boyfriend.
posted by xeney at 11:46 AM on October 30, 2001

Well, I wasn't expecting a sort of....Spanish Inquistion!


No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
posted by sixdifferentways at 11:46 AM on October 30, 2001

I saw "Soul Man" at a test screening, when I was on vacation in L.A. the year it came out. I sat there appalled, jaw on my lap, while the audience around me roared with laughter. It was one of my first, powerful realizations that I was utterly out of touch with much of the mass market. Afterward, I kept waiting for someone to ask me what I thought, but it wasn't that sort of screening; this was just to see where the laughs were and weren't, so they could tweak the editing somewhat.

When I drove away from the theater, I saw Rae Dawn Chong standing outside talking with the director. I rolled down the window and screamed, "Your movie SUCKS!" A silly, juvenile gesture, but it was mine.
posted by nance at 12:10 PM on October 30, 2001

Not the comfy chair!
posted by bclark at 1:00 PM on October 30, 2001

How about the soft pillow?
posted by witchstone at 1:07 PM on October 30, 2001

How about the Spam-ish Repitition?
posted by dwivian at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2001

I knew my day was lacking something, and now I am fulfilled. A C. Thomas Howell thread! Yes, Soul Man royally sucked, but I really liked Red Dawn. And I can't believe noone's mentioned Secret Admirer yet. Kelly Preston and Lori Loughlin paid the price for that one too.
posted by evixir at 2:41 PM on October 30, 2001

I was a C. Thomas Howell fan back in the day. Still am a little bit. How about The Hitcher anyone? That was a fairly successful thriller. And I liked him on the short-lived Fox series "Kindred."
posted by dnash at 2:52 PM on October 30, 2001

I always kinda liked Red Dawn...and he was my favorite character in it.

Wolverines!

KPH
posted by kphaley454 at 3:22 PM on October 30, 2001

If convicted, Howell faces more than four years in jail.

PonyBoy at Folsom? Talk about rippin' somebody a new one. =0
posted by verdezza at 7:56 PM on October 30, 2001

PonyBoy at Folsom

Hey, here's an idea: how about making him "serve time" as a cast member on HBO's "Oz." My mind is concocting Keller/Ponyboy scenarios already...
posted by dnash at 7:23 AM on October 31, 2001

here's an idea: how about making him "serve time" as a cast member on HBO's "Oz."

sounds good to me, if we get to see him naked.
posted by tolkhan at 10:04 AM on October 31, 2001