Former L-Way Teacher in Threat Case Changes Mind on Talking in Court

Former Lincoln-Way Central High School teacher Ryan Gardner got his chance to talk in court Monday, but passed on it.

Gardner, who has been jailed since January for allegedly threatening Lincoln-Way school district officials, still wanted to speak even after his attorney warned him that prosecutors could end up using his words against him.

"That's fine," Gardner told his lawyer, Alexander Beck.

"I've been doing a lot of research since I was in jail," Gardner said, "and I've read a lot of books."

Will County Judge Edward Burmila asked Gardner why he wanted to address the court.

"See, your honor, everything is pushed," Gardner replied. "Pushed, pushed back."

Beck has been trying to prove that Gardner was legally insane when he allegedly made a Dec. 6 telephone call to Lincoln-Way School District Deputy Superintendent Thomas Eddy. About a week after the call to Eddy, the authorities in the Danville area—where Gardner is originally from and where he was living in December—learned of Gardner threatening to "shoot and kill" officials from the Lincoln-Way School District, a law enforcement official said.

Authorities also reportedly learned Gardner was talking about trying to get his hands on a gun and that he told at least one person in the Danville area that he was given permission by a minister to kill someone.

After allegedly making the calls, Gardner checked himself into University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago where he received psychiatric care. Gardner's mental state improved while he was in the hospital, Beck said, but after he was discharged and taken to the Will County  jail, it "has deteriorated since."

An additional report on Gardner's mental state is to be presented in court Friday.

Gardner, who sports a tattoo of the Superman insignia on his right bicep, the batman insignia on his left bicep, and something on the outside corner of his left eye, had been charged with threatening Lincoln-Way officials twice before his trouble in December. He was first arrested in 2004 and eventually pleaded guilty to telephone harassment. The plea got Gardner a 120-day jail sentence.

Gardner, who told his attorney that he has a "photographic memory," was again charged with telephone harassment in April 2007. The charges were later boosted to felony harassment by electronic communication, but Gardner was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Judge Burmila explained to Gardner that if he was again found to be legally insane at the time of the alleged threats, he would once more be acquitted. Gardner then backed off on making his statement.

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