A Snohomish woman was charged Friday with making threatening telephone calls to a 16-year-old boy after he was severely injured in October when a ceremonial cannon exploded during a high school football game.
Dana Lynne Snyder, 41, is the mother of one of Brett Karch’s close friends, according to court papers.
The friendship was close enough that Karch spent months essentially living at Snyder’s home over the last two years, documents said.
As recently as this summer, Karch was entangled in a separate civil harassment case that included allegations that he was patrolling the woman’s property with a pellet gun as part of a long-running neighborhood dispute, documents show.
Now Snyder is facing a misdemeanor telephone harassment charge for allegedly making threatening calls to Karch on Oct. 20.
At the time, he was in Providence Everett Medical Center recuperating from severe leg injuries he sustained in the cannon explosion.
Laura Van Slyck, the city of Everett’s prosecutor, said she did not know why the relationship apparently changed.
The link between the boy and his alleged harasser raised questions about early reports that phone threats were the product of Snohomish High School spirit run amok.
Earlier, some suggested Karch was being harassed because his injury put at risk a 30-year tradition of celebrating Snohomish football triumphs with blasts from the ceremonial cannon.
“The allegations are related to the cannon explosion, but not primarily,” Van Slyck said. “The fact that there may be other motivation for these threats is certainly not ruled out.”
Karch, a member of Snohomish High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Corps, was injured when the cannon exploded at an Oct. 6 football game. Karch pulled the trigger, and the blast shattered his leg.
His mother, Mary Bissell, issued this statement on Friday’s charges:
“As a mother, of course it’s terribly distressing to me that anyone would make disparaging comments to my son. But rather than lingering on the negative, our family is completely focused on helping Brett recover – his well-being is what is most important. We appreciate the kind words and community support that has come our way in the past few weeks.”
Karch has undergone at least three surgeries to repair the damage to his leg.
Snohomish Mayor Randy Hamlin said many people in the community have supported Karch since the accident, sending him cards and letters. Threats made to the injured boy are “appalling” and out of character for Snohomish, Hamlin said.
“I’m very glad that the charge has been filed to follow up on this,” he said. “This should be taken very seriously.”
After the accident, Bissell reported that during his hospital stay, Karch received threatening phone calls and cards from adults and students, blaming him for the explosion. The cannon is used to mark the start of each home game and every Panther touchdown.
Prosecutors filed the charge in Everett Municipal Court. If convicted Snyder could be sentenced to up to 90 days in jail and be fined $1,000.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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