PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty in federal court for threatening an Erie County poll worker with violent messages.
John C. Pollard, 63, of Philadelphia, admitted to one count of making interstate threats before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Authorities say Pollard sent three texts to the victim, a Regional Election Integrity Director, threatening to kill and skin them alive.
The threats began on September 6, 2024, after the victim posted about recruiting volunteers for election work. Pollard initially expressed interest in signing up as a poll watcher, but quickly escalated to violent language.
Federal prosecutors emphasized the importance of protecting election workers from intimidation and warned that online threats are on the rise. Sentencing for Pollard is scheduled for March 31, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, with the final sentence depending on the severity of the offense and his prior criminal history.