Md. man sentenced for making threats against HRC
A Maryland man was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison, along with three years of supervised release, for making death threats and other calls for violence against the Human Rights Campaign.
According to the evidence presented by the government at the sentencing hearing, Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, also sent threatening messages to Maryland and Virginia state delegates due to their support of transgender people. “This defendant targeted and threatened members of the LGBTQI+ community and their allies, instilling fear and promoting violence toward a heavily targeted community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to combating threats against public officials and protected communities.
We will work tirelessly to expunge the growing threat posed by bias-motivated acts of violence directed at the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.” “You have the right to your own opinions, but you don’t have the right to threaten the lives of those who disagree with you.
As this case demonstrates, free speech does not include violent threats against others,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “We’ll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law.” “Threats of violence made against people and organizations to instill fear will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge R.
