Police charge teen with warning away ’snitches’ after stabbing death of UConn athlete

Cops: Teen discouraged ’snitches’ in UConn death

STORRS, Conn. — Police have arrested a man they say posted Internet messages telling people not to “snitch” on those involved in the stabbing death of a University of Connecticut football player.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Mutchler was charged Thursday with counts including hindering prosecution and committing an act of terrorism.

Police say they had reason to believe the messages were instilling fear and preventing witnesses from coming forward after the Oct. 18 death of Jasper Howard. He was stabbed outside a university-sanctioned dance.

A Bloomfield man, 21-year-old John Lomax III, was charged this week with murder.

A man answering the phone at Mutchler’s house Thursday would not comment.