Ohio man pleads guilty to threatening New Mexico District Attorney

A Ohio man recently pleaded guilty in federal court to making interstate threats after he left a threatening voicemail message for the District Attorney in Dona Ana County, N.M.

According to publicly available court documents, on Oct. 26, 2023, Donald Walter Fowler, 47, left a voicemail conveying a threat to the African American elected District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico.

In the voicemail, Fowler said “There should be a noose in your future.”

The Court ordered that Fowler remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

At sentencing, Fowler faces up to three years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Fowler will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the FBI Cleveland Field Office and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.

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