El Paso man accused of threatening to kill Las Cruces Police Officers

An El Paso man is charged with using interstate communications to threaten the lives and safety of Las Cruces Police Department officers.

Sean Stinson, 32, made his initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Stinson remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, which have not yet been scheduled.

Stinson was arrested September 2, 2016, for allegedly making telephone calls from El Paso to individuals in Las Cruces during which he threatened the lives of LCPD officers.

According to the criminal complaint, Stinson allegedly had several telephone calls, some of which were recorded, with LCPD officers during which Stinson allegedly threatened to shoot, kill and otherwise injure specific officers.

The complaint also alleges that, during one call, Stinson threatened to station himself at the LCPD with a sniper rifle and shoot officers as they left the police department.

Stinson also allegedly made telephone calls to the Governor’s Office during which he reiterated his threats to harm LCPD officers.

If convicted of the charges, Stinson faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison.