A Boca Raton man accused of threatening state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman is being held without bond after a court appearance Friday, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Investigators say Luke Schlauder left several voicemails threatening to slit the Highland Beach Democrat’s throat if her office sent him another piece of mail. Gossett-Seidman, who represents District 91, told officials she was extremely upset and afraid he might come to her home or office. Police said the voicemails also included a racial slur and told her to die. Schlauder admitted to leaving the messages, saying he was tired of receiving mailers from her office and wanted them to stop.
Schlauder faces two charges: written threats to kill or do bodily harm and using a two-way device to facilitate a felony. His attorney, Scott Simmons, argued the written-threat charge does not apply because voicemails are not written. His next court date is Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m.
The case began with a report to Boca Raton police, which brought in Florida Capitol Police before the FDLE took over the investigation. Gossett-Seidman’s office had not responded to requests for comment.
