Judge dismisses charge against man accused of Facebook threat

A judge on Wednesday approved prosecutors’ request to formally dismiss the federal charge filed against a man who was accused of posting a Facebook threat to “exterminate” gay people in Wilton Manors.

U.S. District Judge William Zloch signed an order dismissing the case against Craig Jungwirth a day after prosecutors filed court records announcing their decision.

Jungwirth, 50, of Orlando and formerly of Wilton Manors, will remain jailed for now on unrelated state misdemeanor charges. Jungwirth was arrested in September, days after he was accused of posting a threat on Facebook that read, in part: “None of you deserve to live. If you losers thought the Pulse nightclub shooting was bad, wait till you see what I’m planning for Labor Day.”

A grand jury later indicted Jungwirth on the federal charge of making an online threat.

Prosecutors have declined to comment on their decision to drop the charge. About six weeks ago, they told a magistrate judge that the evidence they had against Jungwirth was “weak” and circumstantial.

Law enforcement began investigating when someone sent them a screenshot of the alleged threat on Facebook, which appeared to have been posted by Jungwirth.

“We are happy that the nightmare for Mr. Jungwirth is finally over and that he can move on,” Jungwirth’s lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender Michael Spivack, wrote in an emailed response to the Sun Sentinel’s request for comment.

Spivack declined to make any further comment on the case. He had argued in court that the evidence was so weak that anyone could have posed as Jungwirth online.

Prosecutor Marc Anton said at the Nov. 15 court hearing that investigators were unable to locate the threatening post when they searched one of Jungwirth’s Facebook accounts and his Internet usage at his mother’s home in Orlando.

Prosecutors said in court that Jungwirth has long-standing links to Wilton Manors, a history of stalking people there and a number of restraining orders against him. pmcmahon@sunsentinel.com