JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man accused of making vile threats to members of the Jewish and African American communities last year was found not guilty Friday by reason of insanity. A federal judge ordered him to be committed to a psychiatric facility.
Nathaniel Holmes was arrested last November at his Arlington home after a federal indictment accused him of four counts of threats to kill multiple people and stab one of their children.
Court documents indicate he used racial and antisemitic slurs.
Holmes waived his right to a jury trial on Friday and opted for a bench trial instead, in which a judge makes findings of fact.
The federal judge found Holmes not guilty only by reason of insanity and ordered him committed to a federal facility for a psychiatric or psychological examination to determine whether he is suffering from a mental disease or defect as a result of which his release would create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another, or serious damage to property of another.
The judge intends to convene a “dangerousness hearing” within 40 days, with Holmes appearing via videoconference from the federal facility.
All four counts of the indictment showed that Holmes was operating under an alias that News4JAX chooses not to repeat.
A stipulation of fact that was agreed to by both prosecutors and the defense in Friday’s bench trial outlined Holmes’ online threats in October of 2024.
His posts “principally railed against Jewish people, but also certain elected officials and public figures.”
The first post on Oct. 9 was addressed to a public figure, identified as Victim One. Court documents show Holmes threatened to stab that victim’s kids to death and described them using racial and antisemitic slurs.
Another post on Oct. 10, 2024, was addressed to an elected official and presidential candidate who was identified in the indictment as Victim Two.
A post the following day (Oct. 11) was addressed to a cabinet secretary, identified in the indictment as Victim Three.
A post on Oct. 16 threatened to kill Jewish people and African Americans.
According to the stipulation of fact, on Nov. 1, 2024, FBI agents went with a search warrant to arrest Holmes and search his home.
For three hours, he refused to surrender, talking with an FBI negotiator on the phone during that time. Agents eventually used gas and got into the home and arrested him.
Searching the home, agents found a tablet, computers, and smartphones, marijuana, six firearms (at least two of which were loaded), and over 11,000 rounds of ammunition.
The stipulation of facts also cites reports from two psychological experts who found Holmes insane at the time of the offenses.
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