A former Bellport High School teacher who pleaded guilty to sending hate letters to members of the LGBTQ+ community was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
Fehring was also indicted in Suffolk Court on a hate crime charge of stealing about 20 pride flags in Sayville.
Victims in this case say they feel that the two-and-a-half-year sentence is too short.
“Robert Fehring is dangerous to society. He was dangerous when we started doing this in 2013. He’s just as dangerous today,” said David Kilmnick, president and CEO of the Long Island LGBT Network. says.
Kirmnick was Fehring’s number one target, receiving multiple hateful and threatening letters.
In one letter, Fehring wrote:
In another post, Fehring sent a photo of Kilmnick at a Pride event at Eisenhower Park, writing, “We were right there. They couldn’t shoot you. I was so disappointed,” he wrote.
“They were a threat to my life, a threat to my family’s life, a threat to the LGBT network and everyone who came to our center,” says Kirmnick. “I was terrified of myself, my husband, my mother, the dogs that lived with us. I was terrified at work.”
Fehring apologized during his sentencing and told the courtroom crowd, “We all make mistakes. I made a lot of mistakes. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone… my actions are clear.” I was mistaken for a lot of heat.From a stupid old man.”
Police said they also found two loaded shotguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at Fehring’s home. He must be imprisoned on September 2nd.