United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Piedmont, South Dakota, man convicted of Threatening Communications and Repeated Telephone Calls was sentenced on Nov. 26, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Larry Wenthold, age 40, was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stemmed from Wenthold, who was living in Minnesota at the time, sending repeated texts and telephone calls to a female, and her mother and sister, in South Dakota. In the communications, the defendant repeatedly threatened their lives and put them in fear of death or serious bodily injury.
“You’d better think twice before you stalk, harass, or threaten someone with violence," said U.S. Attorney Parsons.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.
Wenthold was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
