A judge says he needs time to weigh whether a supposed terrorist threat found in the car of an aspiring rapper is constitutionally protected free speech. Such a finding would mean charges would have to be dropped against the defendant.

Madison County Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli on Thursday deferred his ruling on requests by Olutosin Oduwole's (oh-loo-TOE'-sihn oh-DOO'-wawl-ee's) to clear him of a charge of attempting to make a terrorist threat.

Oduwole was charged in 2007 after police on Southern Illinois University's Edwardsville campus found a note in his car vowing a murderous rampage similar to the Virginia Tech shootings unless he was paid $50,000.

Oduwole's attorneys say the writings were only rap lyrics, but prosecutors say the words were meant to instill fear, and that Oduwole did possess a handgun.