Repeat Offender Stirn Gets 37 More Years for Threatening Feds

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Noah D. Stirn, 30, an inmate already serving a lengthy sentence, just added another 37 months to his time after pleading guilty to a fresh round of threats against federal officials. Stirn targeted a Federal District Judge, the Federal Clerk of Courts, and even threatened to use explosives against the Federal Public Defender’s Office, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice.

This isn’t Stirn’s first rodeo. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, John P. Heekin, made it clear: “The public should rest assured that my office will not tolerate repeat offenders threatening to endanger individuals for simply doing their jobs, especially those in public service. If you make true threats to federal officials, you should know that we will take them seriously.” Heekin emphasized the sentence is meant to send a message – mess with those who uphold the law, and you’ll face serious consequences.

Court documents paint a disturbing picture. Stirn penned letters explicitly threatening to kill the Federal District Judge and the Federal Clerk of Courts. One letter, sent to the Federal Public Defender’s Office, didn’t stop at threats – it detailed plans involving explosives and bizarrely claimed ties to al-Qaeda. Federal investigators didn’t buy it, and neither did the court.

The feds didn’t forget Stirn’s previous offenses either. He was already sentenced to a whopping 110 months in the Bureau of Prisons on February 12, 2020, for similar threats. This new 37-month sentence will run consecutive to his existing term, meaning he’ll be behind bars for even longer. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell handed down the sentence on July 10, 2025.

The U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for protecting the federal judiciary, also weighed in. Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal stated plainly, “Protecting the federal judiciary is a cornerstone of the U.S. Marshals Service. Perpetrators that threaten to physically harm federal officials can expect swift and serious consequences for these illegal actions.” It’s a clear warning to anyone contemplating similar behavior.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the United States Marshals Service, with Assistant United States Attorney Harley W. Ferguson leading the prosecution. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, one of 94 nationwide, is tasked with litigating federal cases under the direction of the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website, and further information about the office is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.