Grand jury indicts man on charges he threatened to kidnap, kill Rep. Brian Mast's children

Mary Helen Moore | Treasure Coast Newspapers

FORT PIERCE — A man was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges he threatened to kill U.S. Rep. Brian Mast's children over Trump administration immigration policies.

Laurence Key, 68, of Stuart, was charged with communication of a threat to kidnap or injure a person.

The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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Key was first arrested by FBI agents June 18, hours after an intern reported he threatened to kidnap and kill Mast's children, a girl and two boys, all younger than 8.

"I'm going to find the congressman's kids and kill them. If you are going to separate kids at the border, I'm going to kill his kids. Don't try to find me because you won't," Key said on the phone with the intern at Mast's Washington office before hanging up, according to a federal complaint.

Records revealed Key had contacted Mast's office 478 times before.

Key, who is being represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Fletcher Peacock, denied threatening to kill the children and invoked his right to remain silent.

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It's not the first time Key has gotten into trouble over politics.

Shortly before the 2004 presidential election, Martin County deputies spotted Key pulling up Bush-Cheney signs, tearing them up and putting them in his vehicle, according to arrest records.

A jury found Key guilty of petty theft and criminal mischief and he spent six months on probation after paying $1,259 in fines.

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Mast, a Republican from Florida's 18th district, stretching from northern Palm Beach County to Martin and St. Lucie counties, did not take a public stance on the Trump administration's former policy of separating migrant children from their families.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing the policy two days after Key's arrest.

Key was held in federal custody for about a month. He was put on house arrest after his July 20 pretrial release.

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The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marton Gyires in the Fort Pierce courtroom of District Judge Jose E. Martinez.

Key was scheduled to be arraigned Friday.