Jacksonville man sentenced for threatening Biden and other federal officials

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A Jacksonville man was sentenced to 14 months in prison after prosecutors say he made threats against President Biden and other federal officials.

Adam Ray Mouser, 40, was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in January, prosecutors said. He was charged with a single count of threatening the president of the United States, but prosecutors said he made threats against other people related to his threat to Biden.

Evidence presented in court showed that Mouser used social media to threaten violence against Biden, his family, an unnamed former president of the United States, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and various members of Congress. Mouser was arrested on August 28 last year and has been in custody ever since.

In sentencing Mouser, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless said words matter, adding, “I think it's common sense not to threaten to kill another person.” »

She noted that the threats persisted and intensified, even as the U.S. Secret Service visited Mouser's home to investigate the threats.

Threatening the President of the United States is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, three years of parole, and a fine of up to $250,000.

For pleading guilty, Mouser was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by two years of parole.