A Virginia man will stand trial for allegedly posting online death threats

[Lone_Star_Dem]

A Virginia man has been charged in federal court with making online death threats against the former BART police officer charged with murdering an unarmed passenger, court records show.

Jeffrey L. Weaver, 48, of Roanoke is accused of using the identity "F-ThePIGS" while posting online comments threatening to kill Johannes Mehserle, the officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant early New Year's Day, according to the FBI.

<snip>

The FBI identified Weaver through the two IP addresses that were used to post the threats, Pham wrote. Public records show that Weaver has previously lived in San Francisco and has a prior felony conviction in California for selling or furnishing marijuana.

Investigators also concluded that Weaver had posted a message threatening to shoot a Martinsville, Virginia police officer with a 9mm pistol because that officer had been involved in a Taser-related incident that resulted in a 17-year-old boy's death, the affidavit said.

FBI agents served a search warrant at Weaver's home on May 29 and interviewed him. Weaver admitted that he frequented the Infowars Web site and that he was "angry when he made these postings," Pham wrote. "Weaver acknowledged posting these messages, but stated he did not intend to harm anyone."

More: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/10/BAPT184AHR.DTL

I guess they really can track down people who make anonymous death threats over the internet.

[47of74]

1. Now if they can do the same with Freeperville...

...that would be perfect.

[Dramarama]

2. Interesting comments

on the articles page:
sfchris2009
6/10/2009 1:50:24 PM

I hope the right wing nutjobs from out of state that post to the Chronicle forums take note of this case.

thelastword
6/10/2009 1:42:15 PM

As long as the FBI is watching our every keystroke, might as well learn how to be witty without being insulting. Give an FBI agent a good laugh. Ha ha! (Big Brother may need a break from all the Rampant Seriousness).