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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas gun collector who has been in federal custody since June is due to appear in federal court on charges that he threatened to harm President Barack Obama and other government officials.
Tyrone Paul Ponthieux was accused of posting a Facebook message in November 2014 urging people to get guns and shoot congressmen, senators and Obama, and to use a wood-chipper to reduce the dead bodies to fertilizer.
The 55-year-old Ponthieux is also charged with threatening federal officials including an FBI agent.
The indictment was filed Nov. 18 in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.
Ponthieux's defense attorney has said his client's statements could be justified as protected First Amendment speech.
The FBI reported that Ponthieux said the government is against the American people, and it's Obama's fault.
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