NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- A Zephyrhills woman faces charges that are part of a state statute expanded by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act.

• Jeanie Lynn Bowman, 33, charged in Pasco County
• Sheriff's Office said she made threatening comments about judge on Facebook
• Statute expanded after Parkland school shooting

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said Jeanie Lynn Bowman is the first adult under the statute and that she made threatening social media posts against a judge.

"The majority of times we've charged people on 836.10, it's been students," Nocco said, referencing the statute number. "Now, we have adults who are, unfortunately, acting immaturely. They"re doing things that are actually criminal, and so we have to enforce it. There has to be consequences."

According to an arrest report, Bowman, 33, made threatening Facebook posts against a Pasco judge minutes after the judge refused to lift a no contact order in which Bowman was listed as the victim. The August 1 posts reportedly read, "If anyone needs me, I"ll be at the top of a clocktower eliminating problems" and "searching for one within sniping range of the courthouse, open to suggestions."

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act expanded Florida Statute 836.10 to make it a second degree felony to make, post or transmit "a threat in a writing or other record, including an electronic record, to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, in any manner that would allow another person to view the threat."

"Those statements that are in the report about a 'clocktower,' you know, 'I'm going to look for a sniper position,' those are things that have to be taken seriously," said Nocco.

The sheriff said his office became aware of the posts through information provided during an investigation that also involved recorded jail phone calls between Bowman and inmate Stephen Hunt. The arrest report states that Bowman can be heard making disparaging remarks about the judge in those calls.

"They knew personal information about where their kids played sports. That's what I think actually raises the level of fear amongst the victims in this case," said Nocco.

Court and Sheriff's Office records show the no contact order Bowman wanted lifted is connected to a 2017 case involving Hunt, with whom Bowman was in a relationship. A complaint affidavit from May 2017 details an incident in which Hunt reportedly pointed Bowman's own empty handgun at her and pulled the trigger multiple times.

He later told deputies that he knew both that the gun wasn’t loaded and that Bowman was pregnant at the time. Court records show he served five months in jail, then was found to have violated probation earlier this year. Among the reasons: he was found to have been living with Bowman, a violation of the no contact order.

Nocco said in cases like this, investigators evaluate whether a threat is credible and can actually be carried out. He said they found in Bowman's case, there was the possibility of following through.

The arrest report notes that Bowman told deputies she apologized and had no plans of following through on the threat.

"We see too many times as a society where you don't connect the dots, and when you don't connect the dots, you don't do something about it, something horrible happens," Nocco said. 

While Nocco said the statute was expanded to keep schools safe, that extends to all residents. That sentiment was echoed by Sgt. Robert Grady, head of judicial security for the Sheriff's Office.

"Everyday, I work with these people -- state attorneys' office, public defender, court administration, the judges," Grady said. "I just want to let everybody know that if you threaten the courthouse or somebody at the courthouse, we will take action."

With the school year kicking off in Pasco on August 13, Nocco said the arrest could serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their children about potential consequences of social media posts.