LA MESA MAN TO STAND TRIAL FOR THREATS AGAINST ISLAMIC CENTER
East County News Service
April 8, 2015 (La Mesa) -- A La Mesa resident will stand trial on hate crimes, illegal weapon possession and making criminal threats against the Council on American-Islamic Relations in San Diego.
According to evidence presented in court this week, John David Weissinger, 53, called the office and threatened to shoot employees. An employee testified that a phone message warned that the caller had as much firepower as terrorists who slaughtered cartoonists and journalists at a French magazine. The message went on,“You’re going to be on the news. It’s going to be like Charlie Hebdo. Guess what, it’s coming your way,” followed by profanity.
The employee got Weissinger’s name off caller ID and notified police, 10 News reports. A search of his home found an assault rifle. He also left a threat on the organization’s national headquarters in Washington D.C.
He also sent an e-mail threatening to “kill all of you.”
Weissinger’s lawyer tried to dismiss the threatening messages as “a drunken rant.” But the judge ruled that Weissinger must stand trial. The defendant, who is out on bail, will be arraigned April 21st