LAS CRUCES, N.M. — An Ohio resident was sentenced to three years of probation on Wednesday, avoiding prison time for leaving a threatening voicemail filled with racist remarks directed at a New Mexico district attorney last year. Authorities reported that 47-year-old Donald Walter Fowler from Lido, Ohio, expressed his discontent regarding the investigation led by Gerald Byers, particularly focused on a fatal incident involving a Las Cruces police officer in October.
Prosecutors indicated that Byers, who is Black, was specifically targeted in this situation. Fowler is accused of leaving a voicemail on October 26 that contained profanities and a chilling message hinting at violence, stating, “there should be a noose in your future.”
Authorities managed to trace the disturbing call back to Fowler. His arrest followed in November, and he was indicted in December. By June, he entered a plea agreement as part of the judicial process. At the time of sentencing, Fowler faced a potential three-year prison sentence for the felony of making interstate threats.
Fowler’s attorney, Jessica Martin, did not respond immediately to requests for comments regarding the case on Wednesday.
In the aftermath of the threats, Byers noted that such actions disrupted operations within the police department and prompted heightened security protocols at both the district attorney’s office and at his own residence to protect himself and his family.
This case occurs amid broader national conversations about race, justice, and democracy in the United States. Black prosecutors are increasingly in the spotlight as they navigate and address these critical issues, shedding light on both the successes and the challenges faced by communities striving to reform the justice system.
