Schuylkill man jailed over violent Facebook threats
A Schuylkill County man who posted on Facebook inviting people to join him in killing everyone from police and Children & Youth agency workers to “upper-class house wives” is behind bars for the threats.
Bart J. Aquino, 28, is in the county jail under $75,000 cash bail as he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. March 21 before District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.
Aquino is charged with terroristic threats (intent to terrorize another), terroristic threats (causing a serious public inconvenience), and harassment.
The threats, also against unnamed judges, elected officials, lawyers and others, were included in a series of posts to Aquino’s Facebook page Monday evening.
“I can see it now, carrying AK-47s openly throughout the streets of Schuylkill County armed to the teeth with Molotov’s and my handy canteen of vodka at my side,” he wrote.
“A secession from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania is soon at hand. Who wants to join me in hanging every judge, every lawyer, every single last member of law enforcement, every wealthy politician, every bureaucrat, every single person whom stands in the way of progress, every pedophile, every rapist, every last sex offender, every drug addict and every narcotic distributor. It is all happening right here in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The population may be severely diminished afterwards but at least we the victors of the revolution can lead the way towards a brighter future. We will formerly recognize this newly conquered territory as ‘The Common People’s Wealth’ I am armed and I am prepared. Join me and the Right To Free Speech will still strictly be upheld. Our right to bear arms will never be infringed upon again. And never will there come a day when man becomes subject to imprisonment. We will burn the banks and prisons to the ground. We shall ransack the buildings of child protective services and have them put before a firing squad. We shall kill the gossip mongers and upper-class house wives,” Aquino wrote.
District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake said each county department was notified of a possible threat, and that those in the courthouse were “very vigilant.”
He praised the “quick action” of county Sheriff Joseph G. Groody, who spotted the threats on Tuesday and alerted authorities. O’Pake also praised Ashland police and others who worked to take Aquino into custody.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Ashland police officer Daniel E. Weikel III, Children & Youth agency employees were able to tell police exactly where Aquino lives.
Aquino posted the threats as “Bill Bart.”
