An Ocean Beach man has pleaded guilty to transmitting a threatening communication in an email to a member of the LGBTQ community and suggested violence to her.

George Joseph Wellinger II, 49, will be sentenced on June 9 by U.S. District Court Judge Linda Lopez. She allowed him to remain free on a $50,000 bond with GPS monitoring.

This case involves someone who was interviewed for a KTLA television newscast about the murder of a shop owner in 2023 when she posted a Pride flag outside her business in Lake Arrowhead.

Wellinger threatened the person who gave the interview, writing she was “another alphabet clown that wants to take a dirt nap, too” with a link to the KTLA report.

In August 2023, Laura Ann Carlton, 66, was angrily confronted in her store by Travis Ikeguchi, 27, who didn’t like the Pride flag and shot Carlton to death. Ikeguchi fled but was followed by sheriff’s deputies. Ikeguchi shot at them, hitting a patrol car, and they fired back, killing him.

Carlton was an ally of the LGBTQ community but not LGBTQ herself.

“We know what you look like and know where are you are… only a matter of time… Love it… get ur ghey on sister… scissor it up… we coming for ur rainbow azz. Click Click!!!” stated the emailed threat, according to records.

Wellinger pleaded guilty to interstate threatening communication with a special finding that he targeted the victim because of her sexual orientation. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

It is a federal case because it involves interstate commerce via electronic communications.

“This indictment serves as a reminder there is no room for hate in our community,” said Stacey Moy, special agent in charge for the FBI San Diego Field Office.

Wellinger’s attorney could not be reached for comment.