London man is charged with online threats
A Madison County man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges in federal court in Columbus that accuse him of threatening to kill people in an online abortion support group.
James David Hampton, 40, of London, was arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on 10 counts of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. He was indicted last week.
According to court documents, Hampton searched an “Abortion Support Network” on a social media site in August, then posted threatening comments.
“You are baby murderers… we kill scum like you,” he allegedly wrote. “…I take great pride in hunting scum like you and killing you… We know where you live… your routines… we kidnap your kind… we torture you for information…. I may execute one of you with clamps or poison… but my personal favorite is cutting your throats….”
Hampton also allegedly made direct threats to half a dozen individuals, telling one, “I'm curious as to how you will react to a hot vice (squeezing) your brain out of your skull!” according to documents.
Contacted by investigators in August, Hampton “spoke passionately about his anti-abortion ideology,” confirmed making the online comments, and said he “hoped his actions would inspire real action,” according to documents.
Hampton entered his not guilty plea Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. via video conferencing because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A jury trial is tentatively scheduled for June, pending other legal proceedings. mkovac@dispatch.com @Ohiocapitalblog