FAYETTEVILLE — A California man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to threatening to kill the director of an adoption services group.
Scott Wayne Pitts, 34, of Berkeley, called Sarah Jones, director of Bethany Christian Services, a nonprofit organization that offers care for orphans and adoption services, at her Springdale office and said he was going to kill her, according to court documents. The call was recorded.
Jones also is director of Loving Choices, in Rogers, which offers medical services, counseling and adoption options for pregnant women. Loving Choices often refers clients to Bethany, according to court documents.
In exchange for the plea agreement, the government will drop two additional charges related to calls in which Pitts threatened Jones and her children and threats to damage or destroy Bethany Christian Services and Loving Choices with an explosive device.
The calls were made in October, November and December.
Pitts’ attorney, Jack Schisler, a federal public defender, said the threats were not politically motivated and were related to the adoption of Pitts’ child.
Pitts faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
Pitts will be sentenced at a later date, following the completion of a presentencing investigation by the federal probation office.