PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man who admitted he sent threatening text messages to a Pennsylvania election worker will spend nearly a year in federal prison.
John Courtney Pollard, 63, was sentenced on Monday in Pittsburgh to 10 years behind bars, after pleading guilty in December. He was also fined $5,000 and will serve one year of supervised release after his prison term.
Prosecutors said Pollard sent four threatening text messages on Sept. 6, 2024, two months before the presidential election, to a regional election integrity director who had posted their phone number publicly while trying to recruit poll watchers.
One message said, “I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!” and another involved a graphic description of how he would physically harm the victim. The victim told the court the text messages made them fear for their life.
The defense's request for probation was denied, as the judge emphasized that “political violence is real.”
The Department of Justice said Pollard had no prior criminal history and accepted responsibility for the threats.
