Jared Marcum, NRA Shirt Teen, Faces Jail Time

Logan, W.VA – Jared Marcum, the 14-year-old at the center of the NRA t-shirt controversy, now faces the possibility of a year in jail.

Marcum was suspended from his school for wearing an NRA shirt after the spate of violent shootings this year. Though Marcum’s wardrobe choice was regarded as insensitive by almost everyone, the consequences for his actions don’t seem to fit.

Marcum is facing a $500 fine and a year in jail after refusing to change his shirt and being arrested. He was originally charged with obstructing an officer, a charge that the judge in the case has allowed the prosecution to pursue.

“Me, I’m more of a fighter and so is Jared and eventually we’re going to get through this,” Marcum’s father Allen Lardieri said. “I don’t think it should have ever gotten this far.”

The authorities originally claimed that Marcum was arrested for disturbing the education process and obstructing the arresting officer. But Lardieri says that the arrest was far more threatening, with the officers even saying they’d charge Marcum with making terroristic threats.

“In my view of the facts, Jared didn’t do anything wrong,” Ben White, Marcum’s attorney said. “I think officer Adkins could have done something differently.”

According to official court documents obtained by WTRF, the arresting officer claimed that Marcum’s refusal to stop talking hindered his ability to do his job (hence the obstruction charge). But Marcum’s lawyer says that the arresting officer’s petition doesn’t mention the teen ever making threats or acting violently.

“Every aspect of this is just totally wrong,” Lardieri said. “He has no background of anything criminal, up until now and it just seems like nobody wants to admit they’re wrong.”

Do you think that Jared Marcum should be sent to jail for one year over his refusal to take off his NRA t-shirt? Are authorities overreacting? Sound off!