Trial of Neil Prescott Begins Tuesday

Neil Prescott of Crofton will be in a courtroom tomorrow in Prince George’s County, facing charges of telephone misuse after making threatening phone calls to his former workplace, a Pitney Bowes in Lanham last year.

According to the charges, Prescott, 29, called Pitney Bowes in July 2012, allegedly saying, "I'm the joker, and I'm going to load my guns and blow everyone up." 

Prescott’s alleged threats came just days after the Aurora, CO movie theater shooting, where a gunman entered a theater carrying multiple guns and opened fired, injuring 58 people and killing 12. The alleged gunman, James Holmes, also referred to himself as "The Joker," according to federal officers.

When Prescott was taken into custody at his Crofton home in July, he was found to be in possession of more than 20 firearms and 400 rounds of ammunition, all legally purchased, according to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney's Office.

Prescott is not currently in possession of any firearms, but if he is found not guilty of the charges against him, or is convicted and sentenced to less than two years, the firearms will likely be returned to Prescott, the state’s attorney’s office said.

On August 21, 2012, a judge ordered Prescott to stay with his parents at their Parkton home in Baltimore County, where he has been on GPS monitoring and receiving mental health treatment.