HARTFORD, Conn. — Dennis Hernandez, the sibling of the late New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday regarding allegations of making threats to carry out a shooting at the University of Connecticut and to kill three individuals outside of the state, including a judge, as reported by federal prosecutors.

At 38 years old and known as “DJ” during his time as a football player at UConn in the mid-2000s, Dennis appeared in federal court in Hartford to plead guilty to transmitting interstate communications that included a threat of harm. This offense is punishable by up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for February 6.

There was no immediate response from his public defender when contacted for comments on the case. A woman who answered a phone at his mother, Terri Hernandez’s number, also declined to share any information.

Around the time of Dennis’s arrest in Bristol last year, Terri Hernandez informed authorities that her son was experiencing severe mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Reports indicated that he was subdued with a stun gun and apprehended after emerging from his sister’s residence with his arms raised, shouting “shoot me” while threatening police officers.

According to federal prosecutors, Hernandez made threats about a potential shooting on the main UConn campus in Storrs in July 2023 during a conversation with another individual via Facebook. Court documents highlight a statement from him that made clear his intentions: “I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything. And don’t give a (expletive) who gets caught in the crossfire.” He also mentioned feeling ready to sacrifice his life for change, implying that some shootings could be justified.

The court filings revealed that Hernandez was facing financial difficulties and was discontent with observing others being appointed as football coaches, feeling entitled to recognition by UConn due to his past as a quarterback and wide receiver for the team.

Reports from police indicated that Hernandez traveled to both the UConn campus and Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he once worked as quarterbacks coach, to strategize for a possible shooting incident.

Additionally, in July 2023, prosecutors noted that Dennis had posted multiple threats on Facebook aimed at harming or killing three individuals living outside of Connecticut, including a state court judge.

In connection with another ongoing case, Hernandez also has charges pending in state court in Connecticut tied to an incident outside ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol. He was charged with misdemeanor breach of peace after allegedly tossing a bag containing a brick and a note over a fence onto ESPN’s property. The note reportedly read, “To all media outlets, it’s about time you all realize the effect media has on all family members,” expressing his frustration with how he perceived the media to have exploited the legacy of his deceased younger brother. Aaron Hernandez died by suicide in 2017 while serving time for murder.