Charles Bentley, a 56-year-old Punta Gorda resident, remains in the Charlotte County Jail with a $262,000 bond after allegedly sending a series of death threat emails targeting Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, a Punta Gorda police officer and employees from Jewish Family and Children Services.
Bentley is facing charges for electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, as well as cyberstalking and resisting deputies.
Investigators reported that he sent 33 threatening emails over the weekend, demanding $500 million in reparations for unspecified wrongdoings. The emails contained explicit threats, including a warning that if the money was not delivered, Bentley would drive through the offices of every congressman in the U.S. and shoot them with a Peacemaker Colt, a specific type of firearm. Additionally, Bentley threatened to steal cars and target lawmakers’ offices again if arrested.
The threats were not limited to lawmakers. Bentley’s communications also targeted employees at Jewish Family and Children Services, a nonprofit organization in Punta Gorda. Detectives say Bentley bombarded the staff with up to 100 emails and text messages daily, some of which were so alarming that JFCS decided to shut down operations and instructed its employees to work from home for their safety.
Law enforcement took action on New Year's Eve when officers from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office located Bentley at the Pilot Travel Center on Jones Loop in Punta Gorda. Upon approaching him, Bentley resisted arrest, requiring deputies to deploy a Taser to subdue him before taking him into custody.
U.S. Capitol Police and Sen. Rick Scott are pressing charges in connection with the threats made toward the senators.
U.S. Capitol Police told NBC2, "Threat assessment and threat mitigation requires a community effort. We work with federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as mental health officials throughout the country to resolve concerning and criminal behavior to reduce the risk of violence to the Congressional Community.”