Rochester man involved in threatening Congressman Rodney Davis pleads guilty

Randall E. Tarr, a 64-year-old Rochester man, pleaded guilty on the charges of threatening a US Congressman Rodney Davis. He entered a plea agreement before US Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins in Springfield. He entered the plea of guilty via a video conference, according to the court documents. Sue E. Myerscough, a US District Judge, will sentence Tarr on Nov. 20, 2020.

Tarr admitted at today’s hearing that he called the Decatur office of Congressman Davis on the morning of Nov. 25, 2020. He admitted that he left a voicemail message in which he threatened to shoot the congressman. The office forwarded the voicemail to US Capitol Police for further action, according to the court documents.

The US Capitol Police in Washington, DC, identified Tarr as the alleged caller. The Rochester Police Department was contacted by the Capitol Police as Tarr was a citizen of Rochester, Illinois. On Nov. 25, the Rochester Police Department contacted Tarr at his residence. He was, later, interviewed by the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the US Sentencing Guidelines, Tarr can face a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison for his offense to threaten to shoot a federal official. The investigation of the threatening voicemail was conducted by the US Capitol Police, FBI, and the Rochester Police Department. Tarr was found guilty during the investigation and he admitted his crime before a US Magistrate Judge.

Crystal C. Correa, an assistant US attorney, represented the government in the case. Tarr was identified as the alleged caller through caller ID, according to the Capitol Police officials. He will be sentenced on Nov. 20, 2020, according to the court documents. He could face a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the legal officials.