A Marion County man is facing a felony charge after investigators say a heated Facebook feud escalated into explicit threats to kill, complete with a sports-themed sign-off.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested Justin William James, 49, of Silver Springs late Saturday night after responding to a report of written and electronic threats made toward another man in Ocala.
Deputies were first called to a residence on NE 36th Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. on January 18, where the victim reported receiving a series of Facebook messages and a voicemail threatening his life. Investigators say the messages accused the victim of having a sexual relationship with James’ adult daughter and included repeated statements promising that he would be killed.
The situation moved beyond private messages when James allegedly took the dispute public on social media. In one post, he reportedly wrote that he would be “watching the Miami Hurricanes win in jail,” followed by another explicit threat directed at the victim.
Deputies later made contact with James at his Silver Springs residence. According to the arrest affidavit, James acknowledged sending the messages and making the Facebook post. Investigators say he went further, stating that if he had not been arrested that night, he would have carried out his plan to kill the victim.
James was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with written or electronic threats to kill or cause bodily harm, a felony offense under Florida law. Bond was set at $5,000.
