James Gallagher of Wyndmoor will be arraigned in county court in November for posting threatening material on an online social network.
Gallagher, 22, is accused of posting death threats and hate messages on his Facebook profile. Acting from a tip, a detective with the Springfield Township Police Department created an undercover Facebook account and “friended” Gallagher for access to his Facebook profile.
The detective found Gallagher published statements such as “I will destroy Springfield no1 here got guns like me,” and “White Pride, World Wide,” and displayed pictures of himself holding an AR15 rifle and an AK47 bayonet, according to the affidavit.
Gallagher is charged with terroristic threats, a third-degree felony; possessing an instrument of crime, a first-degree misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a summary offense.
Defense Attorney Michael F. Dunn said Gallagher had no violent plans.
“When he put this on Facebook, he didn’t realize it would be accessible to others,” Dunn said Tuesday after Gallagher waved his preliminary hearing at Montgomery County District Court in Oreland, with District Judge Robert Saraceni presiding.
Gallagher is being held on $1 million cash bail, which reflects the seriousness of the offense, Assistant District Attorney Nathan J. Schadler said.
“We felt it had risen to the level of terroristic threat,” he said after the proceeding.
According to a receipt of seized inventory, police found the rifle and bayonet at Gallagher’s home in addition to other weapons including a crossbow, knives, a stun gun and ammunition. Police also found two Nazi flags, according to the inventory.
The district attorney’s office is continuing investigations into all aspects of the case, including whether the guns are registered in Gallagher’s name, Schadler said. In response to the case, the Springfield Township School District sent a letter to parents saying that there were no threats against the schools, but all principals reviewed safety procedures with students Tuesday afternoon.
At Springfield Township High School, which Gallagher formerly attended, faculty and staff reminded students to be diligent of their surroundings, and the administration urged staff members to stay abreast of activities going on in the building, Principal Otis Hackney said Tuesday.
“There have been no threats against the high school at all,” he said.
