Highlands County Sheriff
Robert Kovner
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Robert Kovner is the Florida man accused of threatening a mass taking pictures at a grocery retailer after expressing issues in regards to the coronavirus pandemic. Investigators mentioned Kovner was upset about seeing folks going procuring with out face masks or gloves.
Kovner expressed his annoyance on social media on April 14. He wrote on the “Sebring Florida” Fb web page that if he was identified with COVID-19, he would head to the Publix retailer and “empty each clip I personal.”
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Sebring Police Division had been alerted to the Fb put up by different involved group members. Kovner was arrested a short while later at his house and booked into the Highlands County Jail on $30,000 bond. The general public info officer for the Highlands County Sheriff’s division confirmed to Heavy that Kovner posted bail on April 15 and was launched.
Right here’s what you should know.
1. Robert Kovner Threatened to Shoot ‘Egocentric Aholes’ For Refusing to Put on Face Masks At a Publix, Deputies Say
Highlands County Sheriff Robert Kovner
The Highlands County Sheriff’s workplace says it acquired “a number of calls and 5 submitted suggestions” a few message Robert Kovner had shared on the general public “Sebring Florida” Fb group. In accordance with the arrest report obtained by Heavy, Kovner wrote on the web page at roughly 4:23 p.m. on April 14. Deputies blacked out a screenshot of the Fb put up from the affidavit however included the textual content of the message within the report:
I FIND it legal that you just enter the grocery store or pharmacy with no masks as if you’re both to silly to grasp the hazard your spreading or so egocentric you don’t give a fpercent8k that your endangering others? Will it take taking pictures a number of of you Egocentric aholes within the parking zone to get the message via? If I get identified I’ll head proper to Publix and empty each Clip I personal!
The put up has since been deleted from the Fb group. Hours after Kovner’s arrest, a gaggle member shared on the web page: “We had an incident at the moment! Somebody in our group threatened a mass taking pictures. Threats like that ought to be reported to 911 instantly not simply admin. Due to our Moderator Charles for dealing with the scenario.” At the least three commenters wrote that they’d alerted the Highlands County Sheriff minutes after seeing Kovner’s unique message.
2. Kovner Apologized On the Fb Group & Shared That He Had Misplaced Household Members to the Coronavirus
Robert Kovner was fast to apologize for the threatening message. The arrest report notes the unique put up was deleted and “one other put up was created from the identical account apologizing.”
Within the second message, Kovner repeated his name for group members to put on face masks and different private protecting gear whereas the pandemic continued.
In accordance with the Highland Information-Solar, Kovner additionally shared that the coronavirus had impacted him instantly. He mentioned seven of his family and friends members had died from the virus and that his mother-in-law was “combating for her life in the intervening time from this horrible virus.”
3. Sheriff’s Workplace: ‘There Is No Excuse For Making Threats Like This’
Robert Kovner was arrested lower than two hours after the threatening message was posted to Fb, in line with the arrest report. Deputies positioned Kovner at his house in Sebring, Florida, and he was taken into custody with out incident.
Kovner made an announcement to deputies after he was learn his Miranda rights. However the division blacked out that portion of the arrest report.
The Highland County Sheriff’s Division wasted no time in saying Kovner had been arrested. The arrest report notes he was taken into custody at 6:15 p.m. Simply 20 minutes later, the division posted by itself Fb web page that Kovner had been apprehended.
Deputies used Kovner’s arrest for instance and warned others towards issuing written threats. The division wrote partially, “We notice these are irritating instances, however there isn’t a excuse for making threats like this. It’s not a joke. It’s not only a dangerous day. It’s against the law. We are going to ALWAYS take them severely and you’ll go to jail.”
4. Robert Kovner Was Charged For Making a Written Risk to Conduct a Mass Capturing
Highlands County SheriffRobert Kovner fees
Robert Kovner is dealing with two felony fees. In accordance with the arrest report by the Highland County Sheriff’s Workplace, Kovner is charged with:
- Written menace to kill, do bodily harm or conduct a mass taking pictures or an act of terrorism
- Use of two means communication machine to facilitate felony
The primary cost is described within the Florida authorized code:
Any one that writes or composes and likewise sends or procures the sending of any letter, inscribed communication, or digital communication, whether or not such letter or communication be signed or nameless, to any individual, containing a menace to kill or to do bodily harm to the individual to whom such letter or communication is shipped, or a menace to kill or do bodily harm to any member of the household of the individual to whom such letter or communication is shipped, or any one that makes, posts, or transmits a menace in a writing or different document, together with an digital document, to conduct a mass taking pictures or an act of terrorism, in any method that may permit one other individual to view the menace, commits a felony of the second diploma.
Second-degree felony fees in Florida are punishable by as much as 15 years in jail if convicted.
5. 5 Folks Had been Killed Throughout a Mass Capturing In Sebring, Florida, In January 2019
FbThe victims of the SunTrust Financial institution taking pictures in Sebring, Florida, have been recognized as, clockwise from prime left: Cynthia Watson, Marisol Lopez, Jessica Montague, Ana Pinon-Williams and Debra Cook dinner.
The group of Sebring, Florida, has skilled the trauma of a mass taking pictures in its latest historical past. 5 folks had been killed on January 23, 2019, when a gunman entered the SunTrust Financial institution positioned at 1901 U.S. 27 South.
Police mentioned the gunman, later recognized as Zephen Xaver, shot 4 financial institution staff and one buyer within the backs of their heads. Xaver known as 911 on himself earlier than barricading himself contained in the financial institution. He was arrested about two hours after taking on the financial institution. Xaver was later charged with 5 counts of premeditated homicide and pleaded not responsible. Prosecutors mentioned they’d search the dying penalty.
Investigators mentioned the victims didn’t know the gunman and described the assault as “random.” The 5 girls killed had been recognized as Marisol Lopez, Ana Pinon-Williams, Jessica Montague, Debra Cook dinner and Cynthia Watson. Learn tributes to them right here
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