( CNN ) A Florida man arrested in the United Arab Emirates for comments he posted on Facebook said he 's sorry for his remarks . `` I said some pretty derogatory things that I do regret saying , '' Ryan Pate said . Pate , who is a helicopter mechanic for Global Aerospace Logistics , an aerospace company based in Abu Dhabi , was on vacation in Florida when he was notified by the company that there would be `` steps taken against ( him ) due to a medical condition . '' The 30-year-old said he was on Facebook when he got the news that his pay would be suspended , so he immediately expressed his anger there . `` I did slam them verbally , '' he said . `` I called them backstabbers . '' Pate 's fiancee , Jillian Cardoza , said it was the `` perceived lack of sympathy from his company '' that `` embodied his comments that he made on Facebook . '' When Pate returned to the UAE in February , he was was arrested for `` cyber slander against the UAE and his employers , '' U.S. Rep. David Jolly , R-Florida , said in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry . `` The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi is in contact with ( Pate ) and providing all possible consular assistance , '' State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said . Harf confirmed Pate was arrested on February 16 and was released on bail on February 24 . Pate said he did not insult the UAE , the culture or Islam , but Cardoza said she understands her fiance 's comments were still `` offensive to not only the company he made them at , but in a larger sense the Arab population . '' `` What I said was very wrong , '' Pate said , `` I apologize for it . '' Pate said the prosecutor has told him that he faces a fine , possible prison time and deportation if convicted . `` It really all rests on what the judge wants to do with with situation , '' Pate said . Pate 's next court appearance is scheduled for March 17 . CNN 's Samira Said and Nick Salter contributed to this report .
Florida man arrested in UAE for `` cyberslander '' after Facebook comments . Ryan Pate , 30 , was in Florida when he made the remarks . He is accused of posting a comment on his Facebook page that said " I am going to kill all white people and then burn down their houses '.