PORTLAND, Maine — Brian Dennison, 27, of Buxton is facing one charge of transmitting threatening interstate communication after he allegedly posted "I'm going to kill jews with my ar15 tomorrow" on Sept. 8, 2021, using the Twitter handle @Ma1lus.
A jury trial began in U.S. District Court on Tuesday after a judge declared a mistrial when the case was taken to trial in May 2022. Judge Jon Levy had decided after the first day of oral arguments after an FBI agent witness tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to finish his testimony.
The jury must determine Dennison's intent and whether or not he issued a "true threat." Defense Attorney Tom Hallett said a "true threat" is when a speaker directs a threat with the intent of causing fear of bodily harm or death.
Hallett argues his client did not issue a true threat because the post has no specific target within the Jewish population. Whereas, the prosecution argues Dennison made a clear threat to harm others, with a specific date to carry it out.
On Tuesday, six witnesses took the stand to give their testimonies, including experts from the FBI, National Threat Operations Center, and the company X, formerly known as Twitter, since that was the platform Dennison issued the threat.
An FBI Counterterrorism Watch Officer testified that he was alerted to a tweet on Sept. 8, 2021, allegedly posted by Dennison using the Twitter handle @Ma1lus which said, "I'm building a pipe bomb." The officer said he then assessed the profile page after the tweet was flagged and saw another tweet Dennison allegedly posted saying "I'm going to kill jews with my ar15 tomorrow."
The following day, the FBI searched the residence where Dennison lived in an apartment attached to his parent's house on Fogg Road in Buxton. Dennison's parents reportedly told FBI agents their son owned "a few pistols and rifles, including an AR-15 style rifle."
A task force officer who testified in front of the jury Tuesday said the search team found AR-15 ammunition and an AR-15 rifle on the property. However, he said there was no evidence Dennison had intent on committing a shooting the following day nor were there any pipe bombs located.
Dennison was charged with transmitting threatening interstate communication, a felony that carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The prosecution and the defense denied to comment Tuesday. The trial will continue Wednesday morning in federal court in Portland.