San Francisco - A 47-year-old California man was found guilty of making death threats on the internet against President Barack Obama during last year's election campaign.

Walter Bagdasarian faces 10 years in jail after Tuesday's verdict in a federal court in San Diego.

He posted a tirade against then-candidate Obama on an internet forum in October, saying Obama would run the United States into the ground if elected and should be shot.

On election day in November, Bagdasarian also sent e-mails calling for Obama to be shot.

US District Court Judge Marilyn Huff called Bagdasarian's postings a "definite threat" when she found him guilty after the defendant waived his right to a jury trial, the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper reported.

Bagdasarian's attorney argued that his client had been drunk when sending the messages. While admitting that the postings were "racially ugly," lawyer Ezekiel Cortez said his client never meant for the threats to be carried out.

Bagdasarian is free on 100,000-dollar bail until his October 26 sentencing.

He was indicted in January after the Secret Service, which protects US presidents, was tipped off about the online threats. (dpa)