Description: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with threatening to murder members of the United States Senate.

Kenelm L. Shirk, age 72, pleaded guilty to making threats to murder Democratic members of the United States Senate. On January 21, 2021, Shirk made threats to murder Democratic members of the United States Senate in retaliation for the performance of their official duties on January 6, 2021. Later that day, on January 21, 2021, Pennsylvania State Police troopers arrested Shirk while he was en route to Washington D.C. A search of Shirk’s vehicle recovered two handguns and an AR-15 rifle and loaded magazines, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Shirk has remained in custody since this incident when bail was denied. As part of his supervision, Shirk was ordered to comply with psychiatric counselling, forfeit the weapons and ammunition involved with the case and provide a DNA sample.

The Court expressed gratitude to the law enforcement responders and Chambersburg Hospital staff for their efforts in this matter.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office, the Cornwall Police Department, and the Washington D.C. Capitol Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating prosecuted the case.

18 U.S. Code § 875 - Interstate communications

(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

Outcome: 06/10/2022 91 JUDGMENT as to Kenelm Shirk, III (1) - Count 1, Imprisonment - Time Served; Supervised Release - 1 year; Special Assessment - $100; Fine - $10,000 Signed by Honorable Jennifer P. Wilson on 6/10/2022. (ve) (Entered: 06/10/2022)

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