By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

John Lawrence Schultz IV

ROCHESTER — John Lawrence Schultz IV, accused of plotting a Columbine-type massacre, testified in a jury trial on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Schultz, 20, 630 W. 6th St., Rochester, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, both level 2 felonies; and possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug, and two counts of intimidation, all level 6 felonies.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Schultz’s jury trial is being live streamed.

The state rested its case around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Rochester Police Detective Matt Campbell gave further testimony, and Jason Page, an Indiana State Police crime scene investigator, was the state’s final witness. Page created a timeline of events for the research and actions the state alleges Schultz did alongside his co-defendant, Donald Robin Jr., to plot a school shooting.

With the timeline, the jury was given the limited instruction that the timeline was merely a demonstrative exhibit and therefore the state’s interpretation of evidence presented in the trial.

Schultz was the only witness called for testimony by the defense. Defense Attorney Joseph Bauer asked Schultz for background on his family life and drug use.

Schultz said he lived with his mother until he was eight years old and primarily lived with his grandparents since then. He told the court his parents were in and out of his life, but that his current relationship with them is good.

Schultz attended Rochester Community Schools, but never formally attended Rochester High School. He attended schools within RCS until sixth grade and enrolled in online school from 7th to 10th grade. Schultz said he dropped out of school due to bullying, as he was picked on for his physical appearance and lower-class status.

He further elaborated on his drug use and said his addiction started with Vyvanse, a prescription medicine used for treating ADHD. At the age of 13, Schultz started using pain medications and marijuana. As he got older, Schultz started drinking alcohol and experimented more with drugs, including methamphetamine.

When asked about his friendship with Robin, Schultz said they started hanging out in 2019. They would play video games like “Call of Duty” together, as well as walk around Rochester or use drugs.

Schultz said the shooting aspect to “Call of Duty” did not attract him to the game, and that the violent lyrics to “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People did not attract him to the song. He also denied making Internet searches with Robin about Columbine and never witnessed Robin searching Columbine topics online while in his presence.

Schultz recalled the time he and Robin went to EZPawn in Logansport with Jared Carter, their friend. He told the court that Robin talked about a firearm at the store and that Robin told him to buy it. However, Schultz said he wanted to use the money they received from pawned items to purchase drugs.

Bauer then focused on asking about the writing in Schultz’s bedroom. Schultz said he wrote the words “school shooter” on his bedroom’s door because he thought it was funny, stating that he had a “bad sense of humor.”

He also said he never had any plans to hurt or shoot anyone whose names were written in his room. In regards to physical evidence presented by the state, Schultz said the hats and trench coats were merely for aesthetics and were not going to be used in a school shooting.

Schultz also elaborated on a text conversation with Carter in which Schultz mentioned shooting up a school. Schultz said he was mad at the time and didn’t reference any specific school in his text. He said when Carter asked him about the message a couple days later, Schultz said the idea was just something he would talk about with Robin because he wanted to look cool to Robin.

Toward the end of the questioning, Bauer asked Schultz about Robin pleading guilty and serving time in prison for conspiracy to commit murder.

Schultz said he didn’t understand why Robin would plead guilty to something he would never do and said he felt bad that Robin was in prison. Bauer later asked Schultz if he could go back to 2020, what he would change. Schultz said he would tell himself to get clean and stop making jokes about Columbine.

“I’m sorry for making people believe I would ever go out and harm their kids,” said Schultz. “I would never do that.”

Through cross-examination, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Arndt asked Schultz about two interviews he did with Campbell upon his arrest. In the first interview, Schultz told Campbell that he researched Columbine a little bit and that some of his family members threatened to kick him out or disown him for “Columbine and stuff.”

When asked about making statements related to Columbine or shootings in recorded videos, Schultz said the tone of his and Robin’s voices were in a joking manner. Schultz also said the date of April 20, 1999, on his smart watch was a Columbine reference. He told the jury that he didn’t get rid of social media posts, outfits, or the writing on his walls before his arrest.

Prior to Schultz testifying and following his testimony, Schultz’s attorneys requested the court file a directed verdict. A directed verdict is a ruling entered by a trial judge after determining that there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion.

With Schultz’s intimidation charges, Defense Attorney Paul Namie said there was no evidence to show the occupancy of Rochester and Caston Schools were disrupted other than a vague statement about roughly 60 Rochester students staying home on the first day of school in 2020. Namie also argued that no one was aware of Schultz’s message to Carter until police became involved.

The state argued that the schools were notified about the incident, which resulted in additional security efforts and some students staying home. Fulton County Prosecutor Michael Marrs argued if schools find out about a school-related threat, even if the threat is made toward someone else, they take action, which results in an effect.

On the conspiracy charges, the defense said there was no deliberate plan to commit school shootings at Caston Schools or four schools within Rochester. Namie again focused on vagueness and also said there was no actual mention of Rochester High School or students as targets. He argued that there was mere talk and research, but no overt acts.

Marrs argued that overt acts are whatever the jury determines them to be, stating that there are about 15 to 20 overt acts Schultz and Robin committed together to plot a school shooting.

With Schultz’s two drug charges, defense argued that there was no evidence Schultz knew he had methamphetamine on his person.

The state argued that people are convicted all the time on drug possession charges, regardless of awareness.

Fulton Circuit Court Judge Christopher Lee denied the defense’s motions for directed verdicts on both occasions.

Schultz’s trial will continue at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10. The state and Schultz’s attorneys will present closing arguments. After that, the jury will be given final instructions and enter deliberations.

Related Articles:

• State Calls More Witnesses In School Plot Trial
• Trial Begins For Second Man Accused In School Massacre Plot