HoCo Man Threatened To Kill, Cut Throats Of LGBTQ Group Members

BALTIMORE, MD — A Howard County man pleaded guilty to a federal crime this week after prosecutors said he threatened to kill and cut the throats of members of an LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Prosecutors said he also threatened violence against state delegates who voiced support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, pleaded guilty to interstate communications with a threat to injure, the Department of Justice announced in a news release. He faces a maximum of five years in prison at sentencing.

"Bias-motivated threats of violence terrorize entire communities and have no place in our society," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement. "We will not stand by idly when the LGBTQI+ community faces bias-motivated threats of violence."

According to court documents, the victim organization received a threatening voicemail from Nettina on March 28. The message referenced a mass shooting the day prior at a school in Tennessee, where multiple people were killed, and the shooter was a transgender woman.

During the call, prosecutors said Nettina made multiple threats, including, "… We'll cut your throats. We'll put a bullet in your head…. You're going to kill us? We're going to kill you ten times more in full."

Nettina later admitted to making the call and targeting the group because of their perceived gender, gender identity and sexual orientation.

According to court documents, Nettina also admitted to sending messages to state delegates at least twice.

On Oct. 15, 2022, prosecutors said Nettina emailed a Virginia state delegate who had advocated in an interview for preventing abuse towards transgender children. In the email, Nettina wrote, in part, "You are a terrorist. You deserve to be shot and hung in the streets. You want to come after people? Let's go b----."

On Nov. 8, 2022, Nettina sent Facebook messages to a Maryland state delegate who had previously posted support for the transgender community. Nettina wrote, in part, "Better watch out[.] Baby killing terrorist. Enjoy hell[.] You're going sooner than you think."

"You have the right to your own opinions, but you don't have the right to threaten the lives of those who disagree with you," Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron said in a statement. "We'll continue prosecuting these threats to the fullest extent of the law."