LAS VEGAS–Tyrone Paul Ponthieux, 55, was arrested after making threats to harm President Obama on Facebook, and also charged for possession of copious amounts of marijuana with intent to sell and inquiring about fertilizer commonly used to make explosives.
As far back as November Ponthieux made threats, one asking his Facebook friends to join him and “get our guns and shoot all of out of control congressman and senators and Obama!”
Ponthieux, who was arrested last Thursday, has been in the federal prison facility in Phrump, Nevada for close to a week. Bill Gamage, his defense attorney, told Fox News that Ponthieux is pending a preliminary examination of evidence next week, July 10th.
Criminal complaints point to Facebook posts and a tip that Las Vegas police received on April 27th of this year. One of Ponthieux’s neighbors had overheard him ask an unidentified man for ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate, when mixed with a few other chemicals, can make explosives. When searching his home, there were no explosive chemicals found.
After his arrest, investigators seized seven registered guns, a .22-caliber rifle, and stolen marijuana meant to be re-sold. His recent profile picture features him holding one of these guns sitting on a black Hummer.
Gamage is defending his client by saying that the amount of marijuana found, 362.8 grams or .8 pounds, could be easily justified as for “generally accepted personal use.” When asked about the Facebook threats, Gamage says “his statements very likely will be deemed protected First Amendment speech.”
Further details on the case have been withheld by FBI investigators.