Maryland man pleads guilty for threatening LGBTQ+ advocacy group

BALTIMORE - A Maryland man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to threatening an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

According to court documents, 34-year-old Adam Michael Nettina, from West Friendship, Maryland left a threatening voicemail on March 28 to the group that supports the LBGTQ+ community.

The message referenced the March 27 mass shooting at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, which had multiple shooting deaths, including three children, where the shooter was publicly identified as being transgender, according to documents. 

Documents revealed that during the call, numerous threats were made including, "…We'll cut your throats. We'll put a bullet in your head….You're going to kill us? We're going to kill you 10 times more in full."

"All Americans should be able to go about their daily lives without fear and without threats of violence," said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office. "Protecting the American people is the FBI's number one priority and we remain committed to protecting the rights of all Americans. We urge members of the public to notify law enforcement about threats of violence or if they have any concerns."

Nettina intentionally selected the advocacy organization as a target of his message because of the actual and perceived gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation of the people who work at and are assisted by the organization, according to court documents.

Nettina faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for interstate communications with a threat to injure. His sentencing will be on Nov. 3.