Robert Stahlnecker, Death Threats, California 2023

RIVERSIDE, California – A federal criminal complaint has been unsealed alleging Robert Stahlnecker, 48, of Twentynine Palms, made more than 10,000 harassing telephone calls this year to government offices and made death threats against a congressional staffer and an intern who answered the calls.

Stahlnecker was arrested at his residence on charges of threatening federal officers and employees, interstate communications with threat to injure a person, and anonymous telecommunications harassment.

He made his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside and remains in federal custody. His arraignment is scheduled for December 26.

Stahlnecker allegedly made the threatening calls to a congresswoman’s office in San Mateo, California on August 28, and to the Washington, D.C., office of a U.S. Senator from Ohio on September 26.

According to the affidavit, Stahlnecker has made more than 10,000 calls to government agencies and elected officials between January and November of this year.

United States Capitol Police has been investigating Stahlnecker since at least 2009, opening 41 investigations into threatening or harassing telephone calls he has made involving 53 different elected officials.

The United States Capitol Police and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Peter Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant Name: Robert Stahlnecker

Criminal Charges: threatening federal officers and employees, interstate communications with threat to injure a person, and anonymous telecommunications harassment.

City and State: Riverside, California

Exact Date: December 12, 2023

Sentence or Outcome: Remains in federal custody pending arraignment on December 26.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/twentynine-palms-man-arrested-criminal-complaint-alleging-he-made-death-threats