Melbourne man accused of making Obama death threats sentenced

MELBOURNE, Fla. — A federal judge sentenced a Melbourne man accused of threatening to kill President Barack Obama to 15 months in federal prison.

Christopher Castillo, 30, made the initial threat on Facebook during the election last November.

Castillo posted on Facebook, "That's the last straw, if he gets re-elected I'm going to hunt him down and kill him, watch the life disappear from his eyes."

When the Secret Service confronted him and asked what he would do if the president was standing in front of him, he said he would "Slap him, and beat the (expletive) out of him."

Castillo was hoping not to get any time behind bars.

He begged the judge, saying it would be a hardship on his family and three children.

His own attorney called him a poor, uneducated, ignorant man, but prosecutors argued there needs to be a message sent: It's not OK to threaten the president.

Castillo did not say a word outside the federal court as he headed to sentencing, but his father did.

"Will you get that out of my face?" Castillo's father said.

"Sir, do not touch me. I'm trying to ask your son questions," Channel 9's Jeff Deal said.

"I don't care. Leave my son alone," Castillo's father said.

Inside the courtroom, Castillo apologized for threatening to kill Obama.

Castillo has a job selling knives. The prosecutors said Thursday he'd been kicked out of seventh grade for carrying a knife to school and said he's the kind of person with a temper people should be concerned about.

Castillo said he had anger issues, but begged the judge for leniency. His defense wanted probation, but the judge handed down the sentence: 15 months in federal prison.

Castillo was crying as U.S. marshals walked him out of court.

The judge said he has concerns about what Castillo might do to others in the community.

WFTV