(WHTM) — A Pennsylvania man will spend 10 months in prison for threatening to kill an election official and use their skin as toilet paper, according to the Department of Justice.

John Pollard, 63, of Philadelphia, will have to spend one year on supervised release once released and pay a fine of $5,000 after being sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon, the DOJ said.

In December, Pollard pleaded guilty to making interstate threats.

“I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!,” “Your days are numbered *****!,” and “GONNA ******* FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR ******* TOILET PAPER,” was texted to the poll watcher by Pollard on Sept. 6, 2024, the DOJ said.

Iron Hill Brewery reopening several locations in Pennsylvania

The victim was a Regional Election Integrity Director who made a post online looking to recruit volunteers to “observe at the polls on Election Day” and provided their phone number, the DOJ said.

Over the course of ten minutes, the DOJ said, Pollard sent the threatening messages after first texting that he was interested.

“This prosecution, and the Court’s sentence of incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons, sends a clear and unmistakable message that threats against election workers and other public servants will be met with swift, certain, and just punishment,” United States Attorney Rivetti said in a statement. “Our office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting free and fair elections.”

Bissoon noted how the victim suffered greatly from what Pollard did and that the sentence also balanced Pollard’s lack of criminal history and acceptance of responsibility. The DOJ said the defense wanted a sentence of probation, but Bissoon rejected that, stressing that “political violence is real.”

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

The FBI spearheaded the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.