Sec. 871. - Threats against President and successors to the Presidency


(a)

Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.


The kid said it's an "effigy", but why would you go to the possible suspect and ask him to make a ruling on the situation. It's like going to a thief and taking his word that he was just there to do some organizing. Obviously, the drawings alarmed an instructor and the FBI. If the kid wants to play political games, he needs to follow the rules and not cry "foul play" when he breaks the law.