A Melbourne man was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison Thursday for threatening to kill President Barack Obama, the U.S. Attorney´s Office said. Christopher Castillo, 28, posted a comment on Facebook stating that if Obama were re-elected he would hunt him down and kill him. After the U.S. Secret Service learned about the online threats, they visited Castillo. When interviewed by agents, Castillo admitted to making the comments. During his trial, jurors had to decide if the comment was a true threat or simply empty and idle words. The panel convicted Castillo in early February.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loca...0,5428009.story

Some heavy time for a Facebook post.

I just don't get it. If they (the secret service/judicial system) thought it was a sincere threat that he intended on following through with,he needs a long spell in a mental hospital,not 15 months in prison.

If they thought he was just running his mouth and had no serious intention of following through with any threat I would think 30 to 60 days in a local jail would be enough to send the message that there are better ways to blow off steam than threaten the life of a president. Even if he had to serve it on weekends.

Quote: sneakypete wrote in post #4

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I just don't get it. If they (the secret service/judicial system) thought it was a sincere threat that he intended on following through with,he needs a long spell in a mental hospital,not 15 months in prison.

If they thought he was just running his mouth and had no serious intention of following through with any threat I would think 30 to 60 days in a local jail would be enough to send the message that there are better ways to blow off steam than threaten the life of a president. Even if he had to serve it on weekends.

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I don't think you should have a right to threaten to kill the President, BUT...

what about all the people who threatened to kill George Zimmerman? Is Obama the only one protected by this law?

Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #6

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I don't think you should have a right to threaten to kill the President, BUT...

what about all the people who threatened to kill George Zimmerman? Is Obama the only one protected by this law?

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