Federal Judge in San Antonio Sentences State Inmate for Mailing Threatening Communications while Incarcerated

 In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced 47-year-old State of Texas inmate Scott Coalwell to 70 months in federal prison for mailing threatening communications including threats to injure his former defense attorney, a probation officer and the U.S. District Clerk for the Western District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau.

In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered that Coalwell be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On February 7, 2020, a federal jury convicted Coalwell on three counts of mailing threatening communications.  Evidence presented at trial revealed that while incarcerated in Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Dominguez Unit in San Antonio,  Coalwell mailed threatening letters to his defense attorney, probation officer and the sitting judge in his McLennan County case; his defense attorney in his Bexar County case; and the U.S. District Clerk for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.  When questioned by investigators, Coalwell identified these individuals as being “on the top of his enemy list” and that he intended to “lock and load and go through my enemy list.” 

The U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Office of Inspector General and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.