Maryland Man Admits Sending Terror Threats to LGBTQ+ Group, Allies

Author: Donald Padgett

A Maryland man pleaded guilty to threatening an LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the days following a mass shooting at a school in Tennessee earlier this year.

Adam Michael Nettina, age 34, pleaded guilty in a federal court in late August to the charge of making threats transmitted by interstate communications. As part of his plea agreement, Nettina also admitted to sending other threatening messages to state delegates from Maryland and Virginia who had voiced support for the transgender community. Nettina made the threats in the aftermath of the March 27, 2023, shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., that left six people dead including three nine-year-old students. The deceased shooter, Aiden Hale, reportedly identified as transgender.

“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,” Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, said in a statement announcing the plea.

According to court documents, Nettina left a voicemail at the victimized advocacy group with the threats, “We’ll cut your throats, we’ll put a bullet in your head” and “You’re going to kill us? We’re going to kill you ten times more in full.” He admitted leaving the voicemail with the intent that it would be viewed by the group as a threat. Nettina admitted he targeted the group because of the actual and perceived sexual and gender identity of the workers and people supported by the group.

Nettina also admitted to threatening Maryland and Virginia state delegates for their public support of the trans community.

“The FBI will not tolerate these acts of hate, and we remain committed to investigating civil rights violations and keeping our communities safe and free from fear,” Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division said in the statement.

The presiding judge, U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for November 3. Nettina faces a up to five years in a federal prison.

Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Donald Padgett