‘You Will Not See Mickey Mouse on This Trip’: Florida Sheriff Confronts Man Who Allegedly Emailed Him Death Threats

Screenshots via Instagram.

“You will not see Mickey Mouse on this trip.”

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood bluntly delivered the news to Matthew Moulton, a 45-year-old resident of Walla Walla, Washington, as he arrived at Daytona International Airport after being arrested and extradited to Florida for allegedly emailing Chitwood death threats.

According to police, Moulton sent an email on March 20 to Chitwood, apparently incensed over news reports about the sheriff arresting and publicly sharing the name and photo of children who make threats to commit violent acts against students or schools, a strategy Chitwood told the Daytona Beach News-Journal was necessary because both the total number of threats and fake threats had gotten “absolutely out of control.” At a press conference earlier this month, Chitwood had said that there had already been over 200 threats.

In the email, Moulton allegedly claimed that by putting the children online, other internet users would “put them in AI and make child porn with them.”

“I’m going to have to threaten you with death,” Moulton allegedly wrote. “It’s coming. There’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

Local police in Washington went to Moulton’s home to question him about the email. The arrest affidavit says that Moulton admitted writing the email but told them he “believed the threats to be satirical and artistic and designed within the parameters of the First Amendment,” according to NBC6. Unconvinced, the officers arrested him, and he was extradited to Florida.

Due to the broad scope of the Sunshine State’s public record laws (and perhaps the well-documented penchant Florida sheriffs have for a bit of theatricality and wrangling media attention for strategic purposes), Moulton was not only greeted by Chitwood himself when his plane landed in Daytona, but police also captured the bizarre and entertaining interaction on video and posted it on social media.

In the video, Moulton can be seen descending down an escalator at the airport in a blue hoodie with his hands in his pockets. (Several local media outlets reported that his hands were handcuffed but not visible.)

Chitwood greeted Moulton as he stepped off the escalator.

“Matthew, I’m Sheriff Chitwood,” he said. “I’m the guy you want to kill, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Challenge accepted.”

Moulton said that he had sent Chitwood “a sermon,” and the sheriff replied, “But you do know, in Florida, a written threat to kill is a felony — you know that? Just so you know, I’m the one who made sure you came back, and I hope you enjoy your stay at the branch jail –”

“You violated my federal rights –” Moulton started but Chitwood cut him off.

“– I will also tell you that you will not see Mickey Mouse on this trip, and you have to reimburse us for your flight here and for your stay at the county jail.”

“Why don’t you look me in the eye and tell me why you want me dead?” Chitwood said.

”I am a Christian,” Moulton replied.

“So am I,” Chitwood said. “So am I.”

“You are not a Christian,” Moulton said.

“How do you know that?” Chitwood said.

“In Corinthians, it says bondsmen are not Christian,” Moulton said, getting agitated and raising his voice.

“Okay, well, we’re going –” said Chitwood.

“You are not Christian!” Moulton retorted.

“Okay, we’re going to take you where you need to go,” said Chitwood as Moulton was being put into a vehicle to be transported to the jail.

“Fine!” Moulton called over his shoulder.

“We’ll make sure the cell has rubber in it,” Chitwood replied.

Volusia County Jail records show that Moulton was charged with making written threats to kill or do bodily injury, a second-degree felony under Florida law, and remains in custody. His bond has been set at $100,000, and he has a court appearance scheduled for June 19, according to WFLA.

Moulton is the seventh man who has been charged with threatening to kill Chitwood, his family members, or other employees of the sheriff’s office, according to the News-Journal, some from Florida and others from around the country.

Watch the video above via NBC6.