by Viktoria Sundqvist CTNewsJunkie
ROCKY HILL, CT — A 43-year-old Rocky Hill man is facing several criminal charges after police say he repeatedly posted online antisemitic threats targeting a Connecticut legislator, most recently after the Oct. 18 “No Kings” protests.
Robert Pabich, who was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 24, was charged with second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, electronic stalking and disorderly conduct.
Pabich is accused of targeting state Sen. Matt Lesser – a Democrat who is Jewish and represents Cromwell, Middletown, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield – with threatening comments on social media, including one saying Lesser deserved a bullet through his face and another referencing the Tree of Life synagogue, which was the site of a 2018 mass shooting that killed 11. Police said he referred to the synagogue as having been “fumigated.” He then publicly posted Lesser’s home address, according to the arrest warrant.
Additionally, Pabich reportedly commented on a photo of a group of Democratic lawmakers on social media, saying “Everyone of these pieces of trash needs bullets shot directly into their faces” and made anti-Hispanic comments in response to another post, and said Lesser should be shot with an AR-15.
Lesser told police Pabich had threatened him several times going back several years, calling for folks to “purge Jewish communists.” He has frequently left hateful and threatening comments on posts involving other Jewish lawmakers as well, including US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, according to the arrest warrant.
Capitol Police told Rocky Hill officers that they had a record of three similar incidents involving three separate lawmakers and Pabich from 2002, 2015 and 2020. He has been ordered to have no contact with Lesser, in person or electronically, after his October arrest.
“I would like to thank the Rocky Hill Police, State Capitol Police and Middletown Police for their attention and their support in this matter,” Lesser said in a statement after the arrest.
After the most recent social media threats, Lesser and his family temporarily relocated for their safety, he told police.
“Mr. Pabich’s pattern of serious and escalating threats have caused considerable distress,” Lesser said in his statement to police. “His residence in Rocky Hill is only a few minutes from our house, and he seems to pose a clear and imminent threat to my life and my family’s safety and wellbeing.”
Pabich has several firearms registered in his name, police said. Four rifles and military-grade ammunition were seized from his Rocky Hill home, according to the warrant.
When interviewed by police, Pabich allegedly said he was “the most peaceful non-violent guy” and “I try not to overtly threaten people,” the warrant details. He was held over the weekend in lieu of bail and appeared in New Britain court for arraignment Monday, where bail was set at $25,000. His next court date in the case is Dec. 19.
Court records indicate he had not been released from custody as of Tuesday morning.
The Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the threats “in the strongest of terms.”
“We are relieved that Sen. Matthew Lesser and our other colleagues are safe,” said state Sen. Stephen Harding, on behalf of the caucus. “We will continue to call out all forms of political violence. We thank law enforcement and state prosecutors for their work.”
Harding himself was the subject of a bomb threat at his Brookfield home in February. Just a week earlier, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, reported a bomb threat at his home in Stamford.
The threat against Harding was sent via email, mentioned a pipe bomb and referenced politics, he told CT Insider at the time.
Both Republicans and Democrats at the time issued statements condemning threats and acts of violence, saying there is no place for either in Connecticut, and everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home.