OHIO PRISONER INDICTED FOR SENDING DEATH THREAT LETTER TO JUDGE WITH SUBSTANCE CLAIMED TO BE ANTHRAX

Posted on 7/29/2015

Defendant: Sean Andrew Heisa

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Sean Andrew Heisa, age 31, for one count Unlawful Possession or Use of Hoax Weapon of Mass Destruction (F-4), one count Intimidation (F-3), and one count Retaliation (F-3), for a total of three counts, in connection to a suspicious letter he allegedly sent to Judge Kim Brown on June 23, 2015.  The piece of mail was received in Judge Brown’s chambers at 345 S. High Street and the envelope contained a handwritten threatening letter, which included a death threat as well as a packet filled with a suspicious powder labeled “Anthrax.”   The case was investigated by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.  The powder was tested and found to be harmless.  The investigation revealed that the letter was allegedly sent by Sean Heisa, an inmate at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio.  Judge Brown resided over a case where Heisa was the defendant.  His case was eventually transferred to Judge Patrick Sheeran.  “If convicted on all charges, Heisa faces in excess of seven years in prison”, O’Brien stated.