SEATTLE _ A Seattle man who threatened to cut out the tongue of former U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott in April was sentenced Friday to two months in prison and three years of supervised release in U.S. District Court.
Jasper K. Bell, 28, pleaded guilty in June to threatening a federal official. The three years of supervised release includes six months of home confinement, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle.
Seattle police say Bell called McDermott's offices in Seattle and Washington, D.C., 23 times in the space of one hour on April 22, 2016, demanding to speak to the congressman, asking for his address and making threats.
During one call, he threatened to cut out the congressman's tongue because his own voice had been "silenced," prosecutors alleged. In another, he threatened to track down McDermott after the congressman's retirement, according to the charges.
Prosecutors allege Bell showed up April 22 at McDermott's office, which was locked due to the arrest the previous day of a Bernie Sanders supporter in Seattle.
Witnesses told police Bell was yelling, banging on the windows and spitting. He left before police arrived, according to prosecutors.
Charging documents say McDermott had been in the gym when Bell showed up and was told by his staff to stay there.
Prosecutors said McDermott told police he was so unnerved by the incident that he brought a shovel into his office "to use in self-defense if necessary" and canceled a public appearance that night.
Bell was arrested that evening. According to Seattle police, he said he had threatened McDermott in an attempt to get the official to support Sanders instead of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, prosecutors said.
Bell was originally charged in King County Superior Court, but the case was transferred this week to U.S. District Court.
After entering his plea, Bell was released on the condition he get anger management and mental health treatment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also ordered to have no contact with McDermott and his staff, and must stay a quarter mile from the congressman's office.
Bell also is required to stay a half-mile away from any political rally in the state.
McDermott did not seek a new term last year.
