Illinois man to serve over 2 years for threatening to kill his attorney

A 26-year-old Illinois man was sentenced Wednesday in U. S. District Court to more than two years in prison for threatening to kill his attorney after previously threatening to kill two other attorneys and a state court clerk.

Daniel Jason, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., pleaded guilty in July to one count of mailing threatening communications. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison and the maximum supervised release of three years.

Jason sent a letter to Dawn Wilson, his Iowa City attorney, in November 2008, according to a sentencing memorandum. He threatened to put 10 bullets in her head and included a drawing of woman with “RIP” and gun next to it. Jason indicated in the letter that even if he was in prison, he would call people from Chicago to confront her.

Wilson was representing him in a post conviction relief case for his conviction of harassment, stalking and tampering with a witness in a Johnson County District Court, according to court records.

Jason mailed the letter and also left a voice mail message for Wilson, according to the government's trial memorandum filed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Ebinger arguing for the maximum sentence  said Jason was still obsessed with the victim from the Johnson County harassment case and the threats against Wilson were “vivid, specific and disturbing” enough that it caused Wilson to contact the FBI when this happened.

Jason, also during the Johnson County case, threatened two other attorneys, Eric Tindal and Tom Woods, and Sandy Dains, a Johnson County District Court clerk.

Leon Spies, Jason's Iowa City attorney, asked the court to sentence Jason to the minimum sentence of 18 months and allow him to seek community based treatment for his mental illness upon release. Spies said Jason suffered from Asperger's Syndrome and needed to have proper medication.

Jason told the court he was sorry for sending the letter and asked for mental health treatment.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade said the Bureau of Prisons can get Jason the appropriate medication and treatment he requires while in prison. Reade said the maximum sentence of the guideline range was appropriate for this crime to protect the public.