A 34-year-old Waterloo man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for sending threatening tweets to United States Senator Joni Ernst, the Grimy Times has learned.
Joseph Hilton Dierks was found guilty of three counts of sending threatening communications in November 2017. The evidence presented in court showed that in August 2017, Dierks began sending threatening tweets from his Twitter account to Senator Ernst’s Twitter accounts.
The United States Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. contacted the Waterloo Police Department after receiving the threats, which led to a law enforcement officer visiting Dierks’ home. Despite promising to ‘tone it down,’ Dierks continued to send threatening tweets to the Senator within 24 hours.
The Senator was in Iowa at the time of the threats, which resulted in additional security precautions. Dierks’ sentencing comes after his escalating criminal history, which includes a prior conviction for harassing a Waterloo police officer and carrying weapons.
In a recorded jailhouse telephone call, Dierks expressed his disdain for the United States and stated that he had no intention of following the Court’s orders upon release. Judge Linda R. Reade found Dierks posed an ‘extreme risk’ to recidivate.
United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr. emphasized the importance of protecting elected officials. ‘The safety of elected officials is something that cannot be taken lightly,’ he said. ‘This sentencing sends the message that those who attempt to intimidate or threaten to harm elected officials will be held accountable for their actions.’
Dierks is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy L. Vavricek and Richard L. Murphy, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, and the Waterloo Police Department.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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