Roman Otto Conaway was sentenced on Friday for making a false threat to detonate an explosive device and influencing a federal officer by threat.
The 51-year-old Conaway was arrested after a seven-hour standoff with federal authorities last September. He allegedly wrote on his Facebook wall about wanting to start a war between Christians and Muslims, allegedly threatening to kill President Barack Obama and burn a Quran.
When authorities arrived, he allegedly claimed his belt and three storage containers on his property were packed with explosives. He was convicted in April.
Conaway “suffered from psychological disorders and snapped after a St. Clair County court entered a protective order in favor of his daughter that precluded him from having contact with his grandchildren,” according to testimony during his sentencing hearing, said a press release.
Conaway was sentenced to five years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution to emergency responders in the amount of $39,868.62 according to the feds. He’ll have to comply with psychological counseling after he’s released.
“While everyone is sympathetic to Mr. Conaway’s mental issues, terroristic threats are something that no one may take lightly,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen Wigginton said in a statement.
“The court’s carefully thought-out sentence reflects this balance between recognition of those issues and the public’s need for protection from such threats,” he said. “The professional manner in which the FBI and Secret Service handled this very dangerous situation is a testament to their fidelity, bravery, and integrity.”
