Martin Alan Schnitzler, Hate Crime, Florida 2015
Grimy Times
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime
Martin Alan Schnitzler, a 43-year-old man, pleaded guilty to a hate crime in the Middle District of Florida for calling two mosques in Pinellas County, Florida, and threatening to firebomb the mosques and shoot their congregants.
According to the plea agreement, Schnitzler intentionally obstructed members of the Islamic Society of St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Islamic Society of Pinellas County from practicing their religion when he left voicemail messages threatening the safety of the mosques' congregants.
The threats were prompted by the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015. Schnitzler admitted to leaving a voicemail message stating, "personally have a militia" report to one of the mosques and "firebomb you, shoot whoever is there on sight in the head. I don’t care if they’re [expletive] two years old or a hundred."
As a result of the threats, both mosques requested increased law-enforcement presence at their locations and took extra safety precautions for congregants.
“Our Constitution and laws guarantee all people – regardless of where they worship – the right to live free from violence and discrimination,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “Criminal threats of violence against people or places of worship have no place in our society, and as proven today, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit religion-based hate crimes.”
Schnitzler pleaded guilty to obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel George and Daniel Irick of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Gabriel Davis of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Defendant: Martin Alan Schnitzler
Criminal Charges: Obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs
City and State: Pinellas County, Florida
Exact Date: November 13, 2015
Sentence or Outcome: Pleaded guilty, faces up to 20 years in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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