The Jupiter resident who was arrested in July after making threatening social media posts about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his vice presidential nominee JD Vance entered into a pretrial diversion program Tuesday, potentially avoiding a formal conviction.
Michael M. Wiseman, 68, was arrested by Jupiter Police on one count of written threats to kill or do bodily harm, a second-degree felony, after multiple people reported to police his social media posts, according to a probable cause affidavit.
An officer found several posts on Wiseman’s public Facebook and Threads accounts posted in the days after the July 13 attempted assassination of Trump that “praised” the shooting and “were encouraging in nature for others to attempt the same,” the affidavit said.
Wiseman posted on July 17: “Some people need to be better shots if they know they are going to kill a monster.” One post from July 18 showed a photo of Trump “in the crosshairs of a sniper scope” that said, “READY, AIM, FIRE. RINSE AND REPEAT,” the affidavit said. Both are posts that Wiseman has now admitted to making.
The prosecutor and Wiseman’s defense attorney agreed shortly after his arrest that he would be released from custody on a $5,000 bond and would be on house arrest, according to the court order. He was required to have a comprehensive mental health screening and begin any recommended treatment and medications.
Wiseman entered the diversion program agreement two days after a second attempted assassination of former president Trump, at his golf course near West Palm Beach.
Wiseman has been removed from house arrest, court records show. If he successfully completes the 18-month program, the charge will be dropped.
Under the agreement, Wiseman cannot carry or possess any gun or weapon or post on social media, among several other stipulations. He is required to continue receiving mental health counseling and treatment.
His defense attorney Tama Kudman declined to comment Tuesday evening.
The State Attorney’s Office said in a statement: “We agreed to resolve the case after considering the defendant’s medical conditions and ensuring the safety of the community with terms that provide for the defendant’s continuing mental health treatment and the removal of any firearms. The defendant, a first-time offender, also pleaded guilty to making the threat that led to his arrest.”
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