A retired teacher who threatened violence against the New York City LGBTQ pride march and numerous other LGBTQ-friendly groups and businesses pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications through the postal service, federal prosecutors in New York announced.
Robert Fehring, 74, a former teacher at Bellport High School on Long Island, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday to sending the threatening letters between June 2013 and September 2021. "In pleading guilty today, the defendant admits that he sent hate-filled communications that threatened mass shootings, bombings and other fatal attacks, to members of the LGBTQ+ community," U.S. Attorney Breon PeacePeace added, "We will not tolerate hateful threats intended to invoke fear and division, and we will hold accountable those who make or act on such threats."
Prosecutors said Fehring warned in one letter that explosive devices would be placed at the 2021 New York City pride march that would "make the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting look like a cakewalk," referring to the 2016 attack in which 49 people were killed and dozens wounded at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
A 2019 letter warned a Patchogue Chamber of Commerce member that ambulances would be needed if the organization allowed an LGBTQ event to proceed, prosecutors said.
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