A routine recorded phone call from inside the Gwinnett County Jail turned into a criminal case of its own when, according to authorities, an inmate was heard saying he planned to ingest cocaine and kill his probation officer once he got out. The call has sparked a new investigation and fresh charges against the man, who is still in custody. Officials say the recording, along with follow-up interviews, led investigators to seek warrants on the complaint.
As reported by The Georgia Sun, the recorded call took place on March 23 and identified the inmate as Stephen Stillwell, who was already being held at the county jail. Jail staff received word of the threat the same day, investigators questioned Stillwell, and prosecutors then obtained warrants charging him with Terroristic Threats and Acts under Georgia law.
Charges and penalties
According to Justia, Georgia treats certain terroristic threats involving death as felonies that can bring one to five years behind bars. Terroristic acts carry steeper penalties, with maximum sentences that can reach 10 years or more when they result in serious physical injury.
Where the case stands
Stillwell remains in the Gwinnett County Jail and now faces the added charge while his original probation case is still pending, as authorities move forward on the warrant. Court records list a Feb. 27 booking on a probation violation, according to The Georgia Gazette, and The Georgia Sun reported that the probation officer named in the call was notified about the alleged threat.
Looking ahead
Prosecutors will decide whether to formally bring the terroristic-threats charge in Superior Court, a move that could change the conditions of any future release and expose Stillwell to prison time under O.C.G.A. 16-11-37, according to Justia. Investigators say they will keep reviewing the recording and related evidence as the case works its way through the system.
