I HAVE BEEN QUIET UNTIL NOW!!!
The Ongoing Adventures of Justin O'Connor
My Story: Facing False Accusations and Fighting for Justice
I’m currently facing significant legal challenges that have upended my life and my family’s well-being. In September 2024, the New York State Police publicly accused me of making “terroristic threats” online against some of the highest-ranking officials in the country. I want to be clear: these accusations are false, defamatory, and reckless. They’ve put my family at serious risk and caused us immense harm.
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed the statements I’m accused of making and determined they were protected free speech. In fact, despite the severity of the alleged threats, I was never even contacted by the Secret Service—because I didn’t threaten anyone.
How the System Was Used Against Me
Despite this, the New York State Police used these baseless accusations to mislead a judge, obtain a warrant, and enact a Temporary Emergency Responsive Restraining Order (TERPO). They entered my home without just cause, arrested me, seized all my legally owned and Constitutionally protected firearms, and detained me at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. You might wonder why I was jailed at all, given that New York is a cashless bail state. While that’s true for most charges, the nature of these accusations allowed them to hold me. After three days, my wife managed to post bail—despite challenges with a judge unfamiliar with New York’s current bail system—and I was released.
I’ve since defeated the civil charge tied to the false warrant and TERPO, but the state has pressed criminal charges that I’m now fighting in court. These accusations have spread far, reaching people I know on the other side of the country, and they’ve caused irreparable damage to my reputation.
The Devastating Impact on My Family and Career
For the past 25 years, I’ve worked in IT—a field where every job I’ve held over the last 15 years has required a criminal background check. Due to these pending charges, I can no longer pass those checks, making it impossible to secure new contracts. Years ago, I moved my family to rural New York to provide them a safe place to live, but IT opportunities here are scarce, and there’s little demand for someone with my experience in a white-collar field. The rural setting also makes commuting for better-paying jobs nearly impossible.
Beyond the financial strain, the emotional toll has been immense. My children have been labeled “terrorists” by their classmates, and I was detained in a cell with deplorable conditions—walls smeared with the fecal matter of others. No American should endure this, especially without due process.
A Call to Action: Misuse of Red Flag Laws and Mental Hygiene Code
I’m sharing my story to raise awareness about the misuse of New York’s Red Flag laws and Mental Hygiene Code Section 9.39. These laws, intended to protect public safety, are being abused to target law-abiding gun owners like me. In my case, law enforcement bypassed required medical evaluations under Section 9.39 to justify their actions, ignoring due process and Constitutional protections.
For a deeper look at how these laws are being misused, I encourage you to read this article from the New York State Bar Association: NYS Bar Assoc. Red Flag Article. It highlights how the law and Constitution are being disregarded in New York, with courts and law enforcement circumventing necessary oversight.
I believe:
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American citizens should not be jailed without due process.
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Their reputations and careers should not be destroyed before they can face a judge or jury.
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Their children should not face stigma and bullying because of false accusations.
If you’re able, please share my story with others who care about justice, gun rights, and due process. I’ve also shared videos on my Rumble page that provide more context—please watch and share them as well: https://rumble.com/user/DrowningInDejaVu.
How I’m Moving Forward—and How You Can Help
My legal battle has lasted over six months, with hearings still ongoing. To support my family, I’ve started new ventures:
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Selling handmade woodworking items like cutting boards and planters on Facebook Marketplace.
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Launching a local delivery service in Montgomery County, which I’m optimistic will grow as word spreads.
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Offering commercial and residential lawn maintenance and clean-up services in the area.
I’m also still open to IT consulting—if you know anyone in need, I’d appreciate the connection. I share these efforts to show I’m not giving up, but I am struggling. If you’d like to contribute to my legal fund, any support would be deeply appreciated. Even a kind word or a quick chat means a lot—feel free to reach out.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Together, we can demand accountability and reform to ensure no one else faces this injustice.
Peace and God Bless
