Clinton Mark Lewis, a 52-year-old resident of Phoenix, has been sentenced to 51 months in prison following his guilty plea to Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official by Threat. United States District Judge Scott H. Rash handed down the sentence on Monday, highlighting the gravity of Lewis’s actions.
The incident leading to this sentence occurred on July 25, 2022, during Lewis’s sentencing for possessing child pornography. As the district judge was delivering the sentence, Lewis launched into a tirade, hurling profanities and racial slurs at the judge. His outburst escalated as he threatened to kill the judge and the judge’s grandchildren, leading to his removal from the courtroom.
On April 27, 2023, Lewis faced a new indictment with three charges: Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official by Threat, Obstruction of Justice, and Contempt. He pleaded guilty to the threat charge on May 8, 2024.
At the recent sentencing hearing, Judge Rash ordered that Lewis’s 51-month sentence would run consecutive to the 151 months he is currently serving for the child pornography conviction. This additional sentence underscores the seriousness of his threats and aims to deter similar behavior in the future.
“Due process demands that a defendant have a meaningful opportunity to speak with a District Judge at sentencing,” stated United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “But the right to allocute is not a license to antagonize or intimidate. We will continue to separately charge those who threaten judicial officers during court proceedings, and to seek additional, consecutive sentences to discourage and deter this criminal behavior.”
Acting U.S. Marshal Van Bayless also commented on the sentence: “The sentence handed down today underscores the seriousness of threatening a U.S. Marshals Service protectee. Our very democracy is based on the premise that the Judiciary operate free from harm and intimidation of any type. I am grateful to our investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s prosecutors for their continued dedication and diligence in the protection of the judicial process.” As of today, Lewis is incarcerated and will continue to serve his sentence for the next 16 years.
