Christopher Madrid | PantherNOW Staff Writer
This Monday, an 18-year-old FIU honors student was charged with allegedly writing an electronic threat of terrorism. The student, Rolando Hernandez-Padron, claims: “It was a joke, it was supposed to be a joke, but it got taken to something literal.”
Hernandez-Padron’s account, “JurrasicParkLover2006” was flagged by Instagram after posting the words “Bad things are going to happen” and “Bombing a house today” on January 2nd.
The FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) received the online tip, and made the arrest without incident on January 4th. Instagram provided the defendant’s personal information to the FBI, which was linked to the account.
“It was youthful inexperience. But we’re confident that Mr. Hernandez… learned his lesson about this joke” said David Donet, Hernandez-Padron’s attorney.
After leaving the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Monday, Hernandez-Padron made comments to the press.
“I think the best thing you can do is learn from it and just not repeat it,” he told reporters. “It was a joke and it was a very bad joke and I’m extremely sorry for making it.”
Hernandez-Padron was released Monday on a $5,000 bond. He was charged with an electronic act of terrorism, which is enforced as a second-degree felony by Chapter 836.10 of Florida Statutes. The charge can carry a max of 15 years in prison.
The charge must be proved by meeting four criteria:
First, the defendant made a threat in writing. Second, the defendant posted the writing. Third, the defendant did so in a manner that could be viewed by another person. Lastly, the defendant intended the threat to be a true threat.
The defense’s argument that the perceived threat was a “joke” and therefore not intended as a true threat, may be what proves the defendant’s innocence.
Hernandez-Padron’s next hearing is scheduled for February 3rd.
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