Gilchrist County man sentenced for threatening reporter, Muslims, political leaders

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A Gilchrist County man will spend three years in prison for threatening to kill a newspaper reporter, Muslims, and political leaders.

Prosecutors say the FBI started investigating Bell man Peter Ring, 31, last June, saying he threatened a news reporter then told authorities he wouldn’t do it again. He continued making threats a few months later, they say.

Ring threatened at least 14 people, posting threats of violence against Muslim people, members of the media, and prominent politicians, according to the Northern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“With threats and acts of violence directed at public figures becoming alarmingly more frequent,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. ”My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting cases like this to send a clear message: we have zero-tolerance for criminality in the Northern District of Florida.

Ring pleaded guilty in February.

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