Crime & Safety
Illinois Man Who Threatened Trump To Get Counseling
Joseph Lynn Pickett of Edwardsville pleaded guilty to making assassination threats against the president last year.
EAST ST. LOUIS, IL — An Illinois man will get mental health treatment and substance abuse counseling after pleading guilty to making online threats against President Donald Trump.
Joseph Lynn Pickett of Edwardsville was also ordered to spend six months behind bars for the June threats, though he's already served the time since his arrest last year.
Pickett pleaded guilty in an agreement with prosecutors in October, after authorities said he posted several times online that he wanted to assassinate Trump.
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The posts included frequent profanity and detailed death threats. Pickett also taunted federal authorities when he wasn't immediately arrested.
His co-workers reported the threatening posts to the Secret Service. He was later arrested.
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Under terms of his sentencing last week, Pickett also will be on supervised release for three years.
Photo of Joseph Lynn Pickett/Troy Police Department via AP, File
