Texas Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening Washington County Probation Officer

FAYETTEVILLE — A Texas man charged with sending a threatening letter to his probation officer pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court, just as his trial was getting under way.

James Edward Williams, 25, of Iowa Park, Texas, pleaded guilty to mailing a threatening communication in December 2011. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Jurors were sent home by U.S. District Judge Jimm Hendren just after 11 a.m.

The letter was sent to Ashley Harvey.

The letter to Harvey referred to a conversation at the Washington County Detention Center when Williams claimed he was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a white supremacist prison gang and organized crime outfit. He claimed to have authority to order assassinations. Williams also claimed affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood when he was booked into the jail.

In the letter, Williams said he ordered a hit on a police officer for, among other things, getting “a lot of my bros sent down,” according to court documents.

“We know your complete schedule,” the letter to Harvey stated. “Makes you curious to know if you are on our list.”

Federal prosecutors said a reasonable recipient familiar with the context and circumstances of the letter would interpret it as a threat. Prosecutors said in court documents Harvey would testify Williams’ claims of being part of the Aryan Brotherhood were one factor in her viewing the letter as a threat.

Jack Schisler, Williams’ attorney, asked the judge to exclude testimony pertaining to his client’s claims of affiliation with the Aryan Brotherhood. Schisler argued the testimony would unfairly prejudice his client.

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