When does free speech online cross over the line?

According to court documents, Jeremiah Perez, 33, of Colorado Springs wrote in part in an online post: “for every innocent citizen that cops kill, we, veterans will kill retired, helpless cops.”

Colorado Springs attorney, Gregory Givens argues that type of speech is not protected under the First Amendment because those words constitute a “true” threat.

“A true threat is defined as you yourself, you meaning the author, the maker of the statement is intending to take some type of action in the near or immediate future, harmful action,” Givens said.

Social media and the Internet provide instant platforms for people to get their message out.

“It’s very easy these days to make a statement and hide behind your computer,” Givens said. “People need to know that if you make a true threat, on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or anywhere else, there’s going to be consequences. There could be civil consequences, there could be criminal consequences. Nowadays, in this climate, police officers absolutely have to take any type of threat seriously.”

Perez was charged with making interstate threats. He will back in court for a preliminary hearing Monday.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.