Transient accused of threatening to kill assistant county attorney’s family, “bomb America” and/or kill a child

Lang
6/17/23

A local transient faces charges that he threatened harm to the family of an assistant Johnson County attorney, then threatened to detonate bombs and/or kill a child.

32-year-old Samuel McElmeel was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 4pm Friday. Iowa City Police say McElmeel emailed an assistant Johnson County attorney on the morning of June 5^th, claiming he would cut his face and rape his children. The email was reportedly filled with threats of violence, slurs and profanity.

McElmeel then allegedly sent emails to various law enforcement agencies across the United States on June 8^th in which he threatened violence, including threats to “bomb America” or kill a child.

McElmeel is charged with 1^st Degree Harassment and 3^rd Degree Harassment. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 25 months in jail.

McElmeel has previous harassment convictions.