Albuquerque Journal

Los Lunas man charged with threatenin­g ACLU on social media

- BY CELIA RANEY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Los Lunas man was arrested recently over alleged threats he made on social media to the American Civil Liberties Union.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in New Mexico, Antonio Carrillo, 62, is charged with violating a federal communicat­ions code. An FBI agent working in Albuquerqu­e said he was notified by the Albuquerqu­e Police Department of two threatenin­g social media posts made on June 19, so he and several officers went to Carrillo’s home in Los Lunas, where he was arrested.

According to the complaint, Carrillo verified with officers that he did create both posts. On Facebook he said “you bitches want a Physical Civil War.. I’m Game.. I’ll Bring My Farm Implements and They Will Never find your bodies. AND for Fun I’ll BURN Every ACLU office in the State.. GO TRUMP GO.!”

On Twitter, Carrillo repeated his threat to the ACLU and tagged President Donald Trump in a reference to deportatio­n. His Twitter account has since been suspended.

While speaking with officers, Carrillo told them he hated cops and lawyers, saying “they’re all corrupt, every damn one of them!” according to the complaint.

Carrillo’s lawyer, Joe Romero, said in an email that Carrillo has no history of violence or threats of violence.

“Mr. Carrillo suffers from and is being treated for a variety of serious mental health conditions, which appear to have contribute­d to this incident,” he said. “I would also note that the statements referenced in the complaint were not directed at any specific person and there is no evidence that he ever acted out on any alleged threat he made on his social media accounts.”

Romero said he did not condone the language Carrillo used in the posts, but did not think it constitute­d a federal crime.

After a detention hearing on Wednesday, Carrillo was placed in custody of La Pasada Halfway House.

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