A California woman, Dolly Patterson, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas.
According to the Department of Justice, Patterson pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to a United States District Judge based in the Northern District of Texas. The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Patterson admitted in court that on or about April 16, 2023, she knowingly sent a threatening message via an online “Contact Us” form directed at a federal judge in Amarillo. The message, transmitted from California to Texas, read: “Tell that anti-abortion judge he better watch his back . . . for the rest of his life!”
Ms. Patterson acknowledged that she sent the message with the intent that it be perceived as a genuine threat and with knowledge that it would be viewed as such. She further agreed that the communication constituted a true threat to injure another person under federal law.
Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson stated, “The safety of our federal judiciary is paramount. Threats of violence to our judges are becoming all too common—whether made online or in person. Such threats are illegal and will be prosecuted.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service. The case highlights the importance of protecting the federal judiciary from threats and intimidation. The sentence handed down to Patterson serves as a warning to those who would seek to threaten or harm federal judges.
In recent years, there has been an increase in threats against federal judges and other public officials. These threats are taken seriously by law enforcement and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment. The case of Dolly Patterson is a reminder that such threats will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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