Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty To Tweeted Threat Against President

BIRMINGHAM – A Birmingham man pleaded guilty today in federal court to threatening the life of President Barack Obama on the social network Twitter, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John H. England III and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Roy Sexton.

JARVIS BRITTON, 25, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge C. Lynwood Smith Jr. The judge in February ruled Britton competent to stand trial. Britton’s sentencing is scheduled June 20.

“Any threat made on the life of the president of the United States is a serious matter that will be prosecuted,” England said.

A federal grand jury indicted Britton in September for knowingly threatening to kill, kidnap or inflict bodily harm on the president by tweeting the message, “Let’s kill the president. F.E.A.R.,” on Sept. 14.

The Secret Service investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph P. Montminy and Daniel J. Fortune are prosecuting.