A jury convicted Steven Arthur Martis on Thursday for "one count of communicating an interstate threat to kill or harm Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi," said the Arizona Department of Justice.
"This case is an important reminder that, although the First Amendment protects our right to free speech, which is one of our most precious individual rights, the United States Attorney's Office takes threats to kill or harm another individual through a phone call or other form of interstate communication very seriously," said acting U.S. Attorney Glenn B. McCormick in a press statement.
Martis had left Pelosi two raged voicemails at her Washington District Office, asserting "I'm coming to kill you" and "You're dead."
WATCH: BRITAIN'S HEAVIEST MAN HAS PASSED AWAY AT 33
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says Martis made these calls after the FBI came to him and warned him about making similar calls in the past to other members of Congress.
About a year earlier, the FBI had interviewed Martis about a different message to another member of Congress and warned him that conduct is against the law, an affidavit filed in the case says.
WATCH: AT WHAT POINT WE WILL TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY?
The jury was deadlocked on two other counts. A mistrial was pronounced, with a new trial date set for those accusations in January, reports NBC News. The maximum punishment for the current count is five years in prison. Martis's sentencing is expected to be conducted on Jan. 25.
PASTOR DODGES BULLET MID-SERMON AFTER MAN "SEES SPIRITS" AND OPENS FIRE
Death threats have become a regular concern for members of Congress. A man was indicted for sending death threats to New York Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino on Nov. 12.
Martis' attorney, Dave Eisenberg, said Martis will be retried on those counts after the jury did not come to a unanimous verdict.
Eisenberg said he would support Martis, who has been held since his February arrest, and is sentenced to time served.
In a different case involving threats to elected officials, prosecutors said Tuesday that a 52-year-old Laramie, Wyoming, a man was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison for making threats to two Republican members of Congress and a state senator.
MAN'S UNEXPECTED CONFESSION ON SIDE OF OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY SHAKES UP 5-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE
Christopher Kent Podlesnik pleaded guilty in August to four counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine Nov. 5, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to counts that he made threats to U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming; U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida; and Wyoming State Sen. Anthony Bouchard, also a Republican, according to court documents.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
