Man gets 10 years for death threats
Suspect had threatened to kill Social Security employees
A Texarkana, Texas, man who threatened to kill employees of the local Social Security office in 2015 was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a trial Wednesday in Bowie County.
Jeffery Monk, 48, made a trip March 4, 2015, to the Social Security office in Texarkana after learning his benefits had gone from $733 monthly to $488, according to a probable-cause affidavit prepared by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security special agent and used to create the following account. A Social Security service representative told Monk the agency was required to reduce his benefits after he reported he was living rent-free with his father.
Monk argued with the representative and said, “I don’t like people messing with my money. I will kill someone for messing with my money ,” the affidavit states.
Two other repr e sen - tatives seated at nearby cubicles overheard Monk’s threat, and one of them contacted a manager. As the manager and a security officer escorted Monk from the building, Monk stated, “I will just go (expletive) kill somebody,” the affidavit states.
Monk was indicted for terroristic threatening, a third degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison.
Monk asked that a jury determine whether he is guilty but asked that 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart decide his punishment. After being found
guilty by the jury, Lockhart heard testimony concerning the punishment Monk should receive.
During the punishment phase, Lockhart heard testimony that Monk has previously been convicted of driving while intoxicated on three occasions. The judge heard evidence that Monk has been convicted as well of assault family violence, felony theft, possession of controlled substance, cocaine, and possession of marijuana second offense. Monk also has a conviction for aggravated battery with great bodily injury which he received in New Mexico.
Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said Monk continued to deny his guilt when he testified during the punishment phase and claimed all of the witnesses who testified against him were lying. Monk also denied having felony convictions even when confronted with copies of the judgments against him.
“Jeffery Monk, a violent felon with a significant record, threatened to murder employees at the local Social Security Administration office. A jury of his peers rightly found him guilty of felony terroristic threatening. The Bowie County District Attorney’s office appreciates the work of the Department of Homeland Security and the Texarkana, Texas Police Department, as well as, the cooperation received from the Social Security Administration,” Crisp said. “Public servants, just like all employees in Bowie County, should not have to face threats of death simply for doing their jobs.”