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Press Release

Richland Center Man Sentenced for Threatening Communications

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Wisconsin

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Travis Martin, 34, Richland Center, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 14 days in jail, in addition to the nearly 27 months Martin has already served, for making threatening communications.  This term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.  Martin pleaded guilty to this charge on April 3, 2019.  

On November 16, 2017, Martin left a voice mail threatening to shoot a member of the Alabama National Guard.  He made eight additional calls threatening violence to others. 

Judge Peterson found that the seriousness of the crime warranted a significant sentence.  He also wanted to send a strong message to the defendant that it is OK to have political views, but that it is not OK to threaten to harm those with whom he disagrees. 

The charge against Martin was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Richland Center Police Department, and the Pawnee County (Kansas) Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman. 

Updated June 10, 2019