Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 50-year-old Thomas E. Netter of Oakfield, N.Y. pleaded guilty on Friday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon M. Heneghan to one count of Harassment in the Second Degree (violation).

On January 29, 2021, at approximately 12:21 p.m., the defendant sent a threatening message via Facebook to the Erie County Executive. The threat was related to COVID-19 mandates.

Netter was sentenced to a conditional discharge and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service by the end of the year.  

Judge Heneghan issued a No Contact Order of Protection on behalf of the victim.

DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.