Man who sent threatening letter to mayor pleads guilty

A 54-year-old Las Vegas man who sent threatening letters to Mayor Carolyn Goodman and an administrative law judge over a workers compensation dispute pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor conspiracy charge.

District Judge Jerry Tao sentenced Alfred Blackwell to six months of probation and ordered him to have a mental health evaluation and stay away from Goodman.

Blackwell, who was originally indicted on two gross misdemeanor counts of intimidating a public officer for sending the letters in October, cried during the brief hearing.

He was arrested Oct. 9 after he sent letters to Goodman and state hearing appeals officer Georganne Bradley warning that on Oct. 21 “all Hell will break out and he will show his power,” police reports said.

At Monday’s hearing, prosecutor Bernie Zadrowski said Goodman and Bradley both want to see Blackwell get the help he needs. Bradley has kept Blackwell’s workers compensation case open to see if he can be helped further, Zadrowski said.

Blackwell, a Marine veteran, was injured while working as a roofer, lost his job and income and has lived in constant pain since, said his lawyer, Deputy public defender Conor Slife.

“He’s not someone who would hurt anybody. He’s someone that’s been very frustrated by the system. I think this letter was more of a cry for help,” Slife.

Slife said there was never “a real threat” in the letters and that what Blackwell meant when writing “all Hell will break out,” was a peaceful protest.

This isn’t the first time Blackwell has made a threat against the city. In June, he threatened to shoot up City Hall, according to police reports.

Following the hearing Monday, Tao ordered Blackwell have an expedited release from the Clark County Detention Center so he could receive a medicinal injection to treat back pain.