Man Accused of Threatening Former Delegate Kim Taylor Enters Plea Agreement

A Dinwiddie County man accused of sending a politically motivated death threat to former Virginia Del. Kim Taylor last year has reached a plea agreement that reduces the felony charge originally filed against him.

Kim Taylor, a former delegate from Petersburg, said she was grateful for the support her family received after a Dinwiddie County man accused of sending her a politically motivated death threat entered into a plea agreement in the case. (Photo courtesy of Kim Taylor)

Michael Ray Strawmyer, 33, agreed to plead guilty or no contest to an amended charge of “threat in writing” after prosecutors agreed to reduce the original accusation involving a written threat intended to intimidate a population, according to court records filed in Dinwiddie County Circuit Court.

Court records indicate Strawmyer was sentenced to five years of probation under the plea agreement.

Taylor, a Republican who represented the Petersburg area for four years in the House of Delegates until losing to Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in November, said Wednesday she was relieved the case had concluded.

“When this case first became public last fall, so many people reached out to support my family, and I’ll always be grateful for that,” Taylor said in a statement. “Now that it has been resolved, I want to take a moment to simply say thank you.”

Taylor also thanked the Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office, prosecutors, and other law enforcement officials “for taking this seriously every step of the way.”

“No one should have to worry about their family’s safety because of public service,” she said. “I’m thankful this chapter is behind us.”

Authorities arrested Strawmyer in September after investigators said he sent a threatening text message directed at Taylor while she was campaigning for reelection in one of Virginia’s most closely watched legislative races.

The case, which emerged just months after Minnesota House of Representatives leader Melissa Hortman was killed in a politically-motivated shooting, drew attention amid growing concerns nationwide about threats against elected officials and political candidates.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to reduce the original felony charge to a lesser offense under Virginia’s threat statute. Strawmyer then agreed to plead guilty or no contest to the amended charge as part of the negotiated deal.

Michael Ray Strawmeyer, 33, of DeWitt, Va., was last year and charged with making a death threat against then-Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg. (Photo courtesy Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office)

Court records show both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that Strawmyer should be sentenced within Virginia’s advisory sentencing guidelines.

The agreement lays out several conditions tied to the plea and any suspended sentence imposed by the court. Stawmyer must complete a substance abuse assessment, follow any treatment recommendations, and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

The agreement further prohibits Strawmyer from contacting Taylor or her family and requires him to remain on “good behavior” during the suspension period.

As part of the plea, Strawmyer acknowledged he was waiving several constitutional rights, including the right to a jury trial, the right to remain silent, and the right to appeal his conviction and sentence. Court records also state he acknowledged prosecutors possessed sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The filing also includes standard felony plea provisions stating that a felony conviction could prohibit Strawmyer from possessing or purchasing firearms and could affect probation or suspended sentences from prior cases, if applicable.

The agreement states Strawmyer entered the plea voluntarily and was not threatened or forced into signing it. A judge accepted the agreement on June 24.

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

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