'Huge Trump supporter' from Lake County convicted of threatening Trump

Federal jurors on Thursday convicted a Winthrop Harbor man of threatening judges, doctors, lawyers, police and President Donald Trump — even though the man’s lawyer told them “this is the biggest Trumper you’re going to find.”

Trent Schneider, 58, now faces up to five years in prison over a video he posted online last fall, in which he railed against people who had done him wrong and ultimately dropped the president’s name. He said, “people like me have suffered real f---ing crimes from f---ing judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed.”

“I think it’s time,” Schneider continued. “I’ve waited long enough. I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of f---ing guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you f---ing frauds. People need to f---ing die and people are going to die.”

Finally, he added, “f--- all of you, especially you, Trump. You should be executed.”

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman did not, however, commit Thursday to keeping Schneider in custody while he awaits sentencing. Schneider already has been held since his arrest in November, records show. Lawyers are due back in court on the case Tuesday.

Schneider could be seen subtly shaking his head Thursday as the verdict was read. It came down in the morning, after jurors on Wednesday had heard testimony from Schneider and then closing arguments.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Nutini explained during her argument how Schneider’s threat came against the backdrop of foreclosure proceedings against Schneider in Lake County. His home was ultimately set for auction Nov. 4, according to a criminal complaint.

Schneider was arrested over his video one day earlier, records show.

“You know that it was a true threat because you have eyes, you have ears, and you have common sense,” Nutini told the jury. “You can see that the defendant’s words are clearly and unmistakably an intent to commit violence. You can hear the seriousness and the anger with which he says his words.”

Defense attorney Michael Leonard denied Schneider’s comments amounted to a true threat, questioning whether Schneider really intended “to assassinate thousands to millions of people” by saying “all” judges, doctors, lawyers and police should be killed.

Not only that, but Leonard said Schneider is “a huge Trump supporter.” Videos shown to the jury depicted Schneider wearing a black baseball cap featuring a Punisher-style skull with Trump hair.

“This is the biggest Trumper you’re going to find, maybe, in this room,” Leonard said during his closing argument.

Regardless, Leonard said Schneider never took action to follow through on any threat.

After the verdict, Leonard told the Sun-Times he was “surprised” by the verdict but “we think we have a strong basis for appeal.” The issue, he said, was not with the jury.

“It’s with how the law defines what’s called a ‘true threat,’” he said.