A 28-year-old Indiana man, David Cherry, has been arrested and charged with felony intimidation after allegedly making violent threats in opposition to high-profile people, together with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, on the social media platform X.
Based on an affidavit filed obtained by the New York Post, Indiana State Police launched an investigation into Cherry after proactive on-line monitoring detected a number of threatening posts from the account @effective_pawn. The flagged posts, spanning from December 2024 to February 2025, included direct threats resembling:
- “I’m going to plant a bomb in Elon Musk’s home.”
- “You’re robbing the American folks. We’ll intestine you and parade your corpse via the streets.”
- “You’re on the hit listing.”
- “We’re gunning you down subsequent, Muskrat.”
Legislation enforcement officers used digital forensic instruments to trace Cherry’s cellular phone location, main them to his place of employment at Batteries Plus in Clarksville, Indiana. Detectives from the Indiana State Police (ISP) arrested Cherry at his office, the place he allegedly admitted to posting the threats however claimed he was merely making an attempt to be “edgy” and provoke reactions on-line.
As acknowledged on a fundraising page set up for Cherry:
He did nothing greater than voice an opinion on social media (proven in picture 2). One thing everybody, in every single place does day by day, however as a result of his opinion was a couple of billionaire, the federal government has determined he’s now not entitled to his First Modification rights.
At worst, he engaged in Political Hyperbole, which is protected by the Supreme Court docket. See right here: https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/rhetorical-hyperbole/
The media is portraying him as a monster and an unstable villain when he’s merely an opinionated man making an attempt to make ends meet for his household.
Upon additional questioning on the Indiana State Police Put up in Sellersburg, Cherry reaffirmed that he had no actual intent to hurt anybody, as an alternative stating that he sought on-line consideration.
Investigators additionally found that Cherry operates a enterprise known as Pink Pawn Dynamics, which sells tactical gear, armor plate carriers, and merchandise with anti-government rhetoric.
A search warrant was subsequently executed at Cherry’s residence.
A search on his residence, licensed by the Harrison County Superior Court docket, led officers to confiscate a semi-automatic AR-15-style rifle, a handgun, a stockpile of ammunition, and a ballistic vest, based on the press release.
Cherry has been charged with Degree 5 felony intimidation, against the law that carries a sentence of 1 to 6 years in jail below Indiana legislation.
He pleaded not responsible and was launched from jail after posting a $2,500 bond, based on WAVE.
