White supremacist guilty of sending noose to leader of Lima NAACP

Daniel Lee Jones of Portland, Ore., admitted he had mailed threatening communications after a police shooting in Lima in 2008. NOT BLADE PHOTO Enlarge

In the aftermath of a police-involved shooting that led to racial upheaval in Lima, Ohio, a self-proclaimed white supremacist living several states away sent racially charged flyers to the Ohio community's black population and a noose to a local community activist, federal prosecutors said Monday.

Daniel Lee Jones, 33, of Portland, Ore., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Monday to mailing threatening communications. As part of the plea agreement, one count of interfering with civil rights will be dismissed.

Jones admitted with his plea that he had ties to a national white supremacist group and that he mailed a noose to Jason Upthegrove, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Lima.

Prosecutors said Jones, who was identified as a regional director for the American National Socialist Workers Party, mailed the noose to Mr. Upthegrove's home and racist literature to Lima residents in the aftermath of the Jan. 4, 2008, shooting of Tarika Wilson by Lima police.

"The shooting received national media attention. Mr. Upthegrove made many requests for unbiased police services for African-Americans," said Shan Patel, a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice's civil rights division.

"The [white supremacist] movement learned of the public outcry in Lima and they injected themselves into the discourse by mailing flyers to residents," he added. "Included were racist texts celebrating Ms. Wilson's death and racist texts telling Lima residents to 'Shut up.'•"

Mr. Patel said Jones personally sent about 100 of the flyers as well as rope formed into a noose to Mr. Upthegrove's home on Feb. 14, 2008.

When asked by Judge David Katz if he understood and agreed with the statement made by the federal prosecutor, Jones responded that he did.

Wilson's death led to allegations by some in the African-American community in Lima that the city's mostly white police department targeted blacks.

Mr. Upthegrove was vocal in the call for change.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bauer said that based on Jones' history and the offense to which he pleaded, he faces 12 to 18 months in prison.

Judge Katz, who has discretion in sentencing, did not set a sentencing date.

Mr. Upthegrove, who attended the hearing, said afterward that he hopes the court sends a "clear and convincing message" that crimes of this nature won't be tolerated.

He said he understands that people may disagree with his viewpoints but said that Jones took the "cowardly approach" by sending an anonymous threat.

"He has the right to disagree with me but sending a noose to a black man is tantamount to sending a loaded gun," Mr. Upthegrove said. "… I want a message to be sent, I want the message to be severe, and I want him to think and people who think like him to think that there are consequences for what they are doing."

The police sergeant charged in the shooting of Wilson was acquitted in Allen County Common Pleas Court on misdemeanor charges of negligent homicide and negligent assault.

A civil settlement was negotiated between the city's insurance company and Wilson's family.

Mr. Upthegrove said since the shooting, race relations in Lima are improving. He said he is encouraged by the recent formation of a citizens review board to oversee citizen complaints against the police department.

"There are going to be challenges," Mr. Upthegrove said, but he added that overall, the situation in Lima is better than what it was.

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-213-2134.