A man jailed since July for a death threat against U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) pleaded guilty Friday in a Monmouth County New Jersey Court.

On July 26, Mr. DeReal Finklin, 43, posted threatening messages online including “Dead Man Walking” next to a picture of Congressman Smith. 

According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Mr. Finklin, pled guilty to Cyber Harassment, a 4^th degree felony. As a part of his factual basis he stated that he knowingly used his Facebook account, Israel Bey, to issue a purposefully harassing message of “Dead Man Walking” with Congressman Smith’s photograph. In making that message, he recognized that his message contained a threat to inflict injury or physical harm to a person, and that the message threatened to commit a crime against a person, namely Congressman Smith. He further admitted that this message left Congressman Smith concerned for his life and safety, and the safety of his staff and family.

In the plea agreement, Mr. Finklin admitted to the crime.  Prosecutors agreed that time served—91 days of detention—an additional term of probation, a full mental health evaluation as part of the deal, adherence to all recommendations of the mental health evaluation, and no victim contact with Rep. Smith.

Smith expressed his gratitude to law enforcement officials and said he “especially wants to thank Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni and Assistant Prosecutor Martha Nye for their tenacity and swift pursuit of justice.”

“This guilty plea in this case underscores the need to report threats including online posts to law enforcement for evaluation and possible prosecution before a situation escalates,” said Smith who represents parts of Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer counties in Congress. 

“See something—including online—say something to law enforcement is advice everyone needs to follow to prevent acts of violence from happening,” Smith said.

“Too often social media posts and other threats have gone unheeded prior to a commission of serious violence,” Smith said.  “The retired law enforcement officer who reported the post to me, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office that rigorously pursued the case, are to be commended for putting public safety first and lessening the possibility of violence.”

“To track down the defendant—he hid his actual identity online—obtain a guilty plea and ensure that Mr. Finklin gets the mental health assistance he appears to need is a win for public safety and the defendant, and it mitigates at least this threat,” Smith said. 

Smith noted that a lack of proper mental health care has been a significant factor in violent attacks and shootings.  In September, after speaking on the phone with Mr. Finklin’s mother, Smith submitted a statement to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office requesting mental health care for the defendant.  

Smith said in his statement to the prosecutor: “If guilt is established at trial or a plea agreement reached, I am respectfully asking that you consider a path forward that is most likely to ensure that Mr. Finklin gets the mental health care he appears to critically need.” 

Smith’s September statement also emphasized that this threat could not be ignored and was just one of several threats he and his office have faced in recent years.  Smith’s personal car tires have been slashed at least eight times, and five separate cease-and-desist orders have been issued to individuals for threatening behavior.