KNOXVILLE MAN INDICTED FOR THREATENING ICE AGENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A federal grand jury has indicted a 68-year-local man on federal charges after he allegedly posted threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the social media platform Bluesky.
David Kerr of Knoxville faces a two-count indictment for interstate threats in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). According to court documents, the charges stem from two separate online posts:
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June 4, 2025: Kerr allegedly posted, “Time to bear spray ICE!”
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October 7, 2025: He allegedly posted, “Kill the ice military police!”
Kerr appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin on September 21, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty. He remains detained pending trial, which is scheduled for November 24, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan.
If convicted, Kerr faces up to 10 years in total prison time—a maximum of five years for each count—alongside potential fines of up to $250,000 per violation and up to three years of supervised release.
The announcement was made jointly by U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. is prosecuting the matter.
Note: An indictment is merely a formal charge, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
