San Antonio Man Busted After 'Lynch Mob' Death Threats To Prosecutor

Ryan David Simmons, 47, was arrested Monday after investigators say he sent a string of graphic, violent emails to a Bexar County assistant district attorney, including the line, "You will die by a lynch mob." According to an arrest affidavit, the messages also told the prosecutor "(you're) already dead" and claimed "you were skinned alive." Simmons was booked on a charge of making a terroristic threat causing fear of imminent serious bodily injury and was later released after posting $3,500 bond.

Details from the arrest affidavit

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office opened an investigation last Tuesday after an attorney with the DA's Conviction Integrity Unit reported the threatening emails, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The affidavit states the messages came from two email accounts that investigators linked to Simmons and included lines such as "(You're) already dead" and "You will be carried out in hemp shackles until (you're) dead, dead, dead." Investigators say Simmons admitted owning the accounts, and GPS location data from his phone allegedly matched him to the messages that were sent.

Legal context

Under Texas law, a "terroristic threat" covers communications intended to place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury. The statute outlines several categories depending on the target and the sender's intent, as described in Texas Penal Code §22.07 on FindLaw. A conviction for a Class B misdemeanor can bring up to 180 days in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine, according to the sentencing provisions in Texas Penal Code §12.22 on FindLaw. The same law allows for more serious charges in certain situations, including when threats are directed at public servants or meant to disrupt public services.

Why the CIU mattered

The Conviction Integrity Unit in the Bexar County District Attorney's Office handles post-conviction reviews and writs rather than day-to-day prosecutions. The county website lists Matthew B. Howard as the unit's director and notes that its mission is to identify and correct manifest injustice, according to Bexar County. That review-focused role is what put a CIU attorney in position to receive and report the messages that triggered the sheriff's investigation, according to public records on the county site.

Next steps

Simmons currently faces the single misdemeanor count outlined in the arrest affidavit and was released after posting a $3,500 bond. If he is convicted, he could be sentenced to as much as 180 days in jail and fined up to $2,000. Prosecutors may seek additional charges if further evidence comes to light.