Man Charged with Threatening Villa Park Councilwoman on Facebook

A 27-year-old San Pedro man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of threatening to attack Villa Park City Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, who has come under fire for comments her critics say are anti-Islamic.
  
Paul Dean Andrews was charged with a felony count of threatening a public official. Bail was set today at $100,000 and Andrews was next scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing March 30, Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Olivieri said.
  
Andrews was angered by comments Pauly made at a Feb. 13 benefit for Islamic Circle of North American Relief USA, which was held at a Yorba Linda community center. Pauly, joining other protesters at the benefit, said, "I know quite a few Marines who would be very happy to help these terrorists to an early meeting in Paradise.''
  
Pauly has since said she was referring to terrorists in the Middle East and not anyone at the organization's fundraiser. Reps. Ed Royce, R-Orange, and Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, also attended the rally.
  
Andrews allegedly sent a Facebook message to Pauly March 3 that threatened violence against her with weapons, Olivieri said, adding she could not be more specific about the threat.
  
"We can't be specific on the threat, but it was a specific threat to harm her,'' said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
  
Orange County sheriff's deputies tracked the message back to Andrews and confronted him at his home Monday, Amormino said. Andrews was arrested without incident at his home, Amormino added.
  
About 200 protesters assembled outside Villa Park City Hall Tuesday night with some intent on demanding an apology from Pauly during the City Council meeting.
  
The Villa Park Peace Coalition sent a letter last week to Pauly demanding an apology.
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"Your speech incited hate and undermined the very essence of American values in which we pride ourselves,'' the members of the coalition said in the letter. "In Villa Park, we have always supported religious pluralism as we have always enjoyed a peaceful co-existence amongst our constituents.''