Conspiracy: The Case of Joseph Nee
1. Make sure that students understand the concept of Inchoate Offenses including solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy.
2. Students should search the web for news articles covering the case of Commonwealth vs. Joseph Nee in which Joseph Nee and others were charged with conspiring to carry out a Columbine-like massacre at Marshfield High School in 2004.
3. Students should answer the following questions in well written paragraphs:
a. How did the Marshfield police discover the alleged plot, what arrests were made, and what charges were brought against the defendants?
b. What evidence was presented against Nee at his trial?
c. What arguments were made by Nee at his trial?
d. Nee later appealed his conviction arguing several “errors of law” including that the “renunciation defense” should have been applied. What is the renunciation defense and why did the appeals court deny it?
e. Was justice served in this case?
Web Sites
Any internet search for Joseph Nee, Marshfield, conspiracy should lead you to this case but you can also try these sites.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/15/judge_convicts_ex_student_in_school_plot/
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_lost_boys_1/
http://www.mass.gov/daplymouth/pdfs/appellatedecisions/nee.pdf
Conspiracy: The Case of Joseph Nee
4. Make sure that students understand the concept of Inchoate Offenses including solicitation, attempt, and conspiracy.
5. Students should search the web for news articles covering the case of Commonwealth vs. Joseph Nee in which Joseph Nee and others were charged with conspiring to carry out a Columbine-like massacre at Marshfield High School in 2004.
6. Students should answer the following questions in well written paragraphs:
a. How did the Marshfield police discover the alleged plot, what arrests were made, and what charges were brought against the defendants?
b. What evidence was presented against Nee at his trial?
c. What arguments were made by Nee at his trial?
d. Nee later appealed his conviction arguing several “errors of law” including that the “renunciation defense” should have been applied. What is the renunciation defense and why did the appeals court deny it?
e. Was justice served in this case?
Web Sites
Any internet search for Joseph Nee, Marshfield, conspiracy should lead you to this case but you can also try these sites.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/15/judge_convicts_ex_student_in_school_plot/
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_lost_boys_1/
http://www.mass.gov/daplymouth/pdfs/appellatedecisions/nee.pdf