The young Florida fisherman who was berated by a raging charter boat captain is pleading for the public to stop their threats towards the jailed boater and allow the justice system to run its course.
Gage Towles, 22, spoke out about his viral, profanity-filled confrontation with 40-year-old Brock Horner in Punta Gorda’s Charlotte Harbor through his lawyers on Monday.
“We respectfully request that all threats to Brock Horner’s family and associates cease,” Towles’ attorney, Steven Leskovich, said Monday.
At around 7:30 p.m. on April 1, Horner is accused of pulling up aside Towles’ boat and shouting at the fisherman about an incident that happened earlier in the day.
Horner had allegedly raced past a group of fishermen – coming within 10 feet of Towles’ boat and five feet from another boat – underneath the Gilchrist Bridge in the early morning of March 30, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The fishermen “cursed out” Horner for his risky passage, according to the conversation from the video.
The charter captain, who was with four other men on his boat, claimed to be the greatest boater on the water.
“I’m 300 days a year on the motherf–king water, every day. I’m the best charter captain you will ever meet in your motherf–king life,” Horner said before grabbing onto Towles’ boat.
The enraged captain commandeered the small vessel and drove around with the frightened 22-year-old begging him to stop.
The unauthorized entry onto the boat, combined with Horner’s threats directed at Towles was cited by police as a criminal offense.
After driving around for approximately 5 seconds, Horner jumped to the front of the boat and demanded Towles to drive him back to his own boat while continuing his verbal assault on his younger victim.
“Do it again and watch what f–king happens,” he shouted.
Towles legal team condemned Horner for his episode but called out supporters of the fisherman for not being much better.
“While no boater, no fisherman, and no person should ever have to endure the experience that Mr. Towles went through and the emotional aftermath that has followed, Mr. Horner’s actions will be dealt with through the appropriate channels of the criminal justice system.”
Leskovich said Towles was appreciative of the support but was “concerned” about the violence and threats directed at the charter captain’s family.
“There is no room for violence or threats of violence directed at innocent individuals because of Mr. Horner’s actions,” the statement read.
“Mr. Horner has been arrested for his criminality; we kindly ask for individuals to trust the criminal justice system to work through this process to make sure that he receives the necessary and proper treatment that he so desperately needs, and the rehabilitation that is sought after. We kindly ask all people to refrain from violence and vulgarity during this process and to cease all threats made to Brock Horner, his family, and/or his attorney.
Horner was arrested on April 4 and charged with Burglary with Assault or Battery stemming from the viral video in the Charlotte Harbor.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge during a court appearance on Tuesday, according to court records viewed by The Post.
Horner said he was “deeply sorry” for his behavior when he allowed a “moment of frustration” to escalate, according to a statement from his attorney to Gulf Coast News.
The attorney identified Horner as a “decorated combat veteran who was severely injured in Afghanistan,” suffering a traumatic brain injury in combat and is recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as “100 percent disabled.”
“That’s not an excuse — but it is part of his story. He stood up when this country asked him to, and that service deserves to be respected,” the statement said.
Horner was bonded out of jail on April 5.
He is due back in court on May 5 for an arraignment, according to court records.
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