NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – A New Braunfels man has been sentenced to eight months in prison and three years of supervised release after making threats against then-presidential candidate Joe Biden in 2019.
William Oliver Towery, 55, was convicted in March and was officially sentenced Wednesday.
According to court documents, on Dec. 11, 2019, Towery responded to a mass text message, that was meant to include his father, regarding a campaign rally where Biden was set to appear.
In the text, Towery said, “I’ll be there and have been practicing my sniping skills all month just for this occasion. If you will be nell [sic] near him you may want to wear something dark to hide the blood splatter,” according to the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas.
Towery, who is a former Judson ISD police officer, was facing up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment.
Towery was also an investigator with the Texas Attorney General’s Office and later a reserve officer with the city of San Marcos, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez said that words have consequences and can incite others to behave in ways they might not otherwise.
According to the Express-News, at the sentencing, Towery said “If I could take back what I’ve done, I would do so in a heartbeat. Please don’t throw me away. I’m sorry.”
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the San Antonio Police Department and the New Braunfels Police Department investigated the case.