PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gage Towles, the fisherman who went viral after recording a heated confrontation with a charter captain, is asking the general public to tone down their outrage.
The 22-year-old’s lawyer, Steven Leskovich, launched an announcement to eight On Your Aspect Monday, responding to the arrest of Brock Horner, 40, of Port Charlotte.
Horner, who operated Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters, bought into an argument with Towles — which escalated into Horner boarding Towles’ boat and grabbing at his shirt, police mentioned.
The captain was arrested days afterward a housebreaking with assault or battery cost, with orders from the court to not contact Towles.
In a sufferer impression assertion, Leskovich mentioned Towles appreciates the group assist, however he has turn into involved with the vitriol Horner and his household have skilled within the video’s aftermath:
On behalf of the sufferer, Gage Towles, from the boating tirade that occurred on April 1, 2025, by the hands of Brock Horner, we respectfully request that each one threats to Brock Horner’s household and associates stop.
Whereas no boater, no fisherman, and no individual ought to ever need to endure the expertise that Mr. Towles went via and the emotional aftermath that has adopted, Mr. Horner’s actions will probably be handled via the suitable channels of the legal justice system.
Whereas Mr. Towles is extraordinarily grateful for the outpouring of assist that he has obtained from folks far and close to, Mr. Towles can be enormously involved with the outpouring of contempt and disgust that has been directed at Mr. Horner’s household, and the group; thus, there isn’t a room for violence or threats of violence directed at harmless people due to Mr. Horner’s actions. Mr. Horner has been arrested for his criminality; and we kindly ask for people to belief the legal justice system to work via this course of to make it possible for he receives the required and correct remedy that he so desperately wants, and the rehabilitation that’s wanted. We kindly ask all folks to chorus from violence and vulgarity throughout this course of and to stop all threats made to Brock Horner, his household, and/or his lawyer.
We additionally need to personally thank the women and men of regulation enforcement who so actively, totally, and tirelessly investigated this matter and located possible trigger for the arrest of Mr. Horner.
Steven Leskovich, Lawyer for Gage Towles
Towles himself has but to talk to the media about his expertise. Leskivish mentioned his shopper is “making an attempt to remain out of the limelight for now” when requested about an interview.
