Judge: Columbine wannabe has made progress

NORRISTOWN, Pa., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A judge in Pennsylvania praised a teenager convicted of planning a violent attack on a high school and blamed his mother for most of his problems.

Dillon Cossey, 15, was ordered to remain at George Junior Republic in western Pennsylvania for the time being, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. But Montgomery County Judge Paul Tressler said Thursday that he could transfer to a less-secure unit.

Tressler did not recognize the teen, who has lost 73 pounds since he was confined to the secure school. He praised him for his good grades, saying he has shown he had a "good brain."

But the judge was harsh toward Michele Cossey, criticizing her for bringing food to her son as a present during visits.

"Until I trust you -- and I do not at this point -- he will not come home to you," the judge said.

Dillon was arrested after police got a tip that he had a hit list of students at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. He had dropped out because he was teased and bullied.

Michele Cossey was charged with buying her son guns. Tressler told Dillon he recused himself from his mother's case because he was so angry at her he did not think he could be fair.