A 52-year-old Phoenix man who was being sentenced in a child pornography case will face another 51 months in prison for threatening to kill a federal judge and the judge’s grandchildren.

Clinton Mark Lewis was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash after he pleaded guilty May 8 to one count of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threat, according to a release from the Arizona division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On July 25, 2022, Lewis was in federal court for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of possessing child pornography.

As the district judge was pronouncing his sentence, “Lewis erupted in court, shouting profanities and racial slurs at the judge. During his tirade, Lewis threatened to kill the judge and the judge’s grandchildren,” the release stated, adding Lewis was removed from the courtroom.

On April 27, 2023, Lewis was indicted on three separate charges: influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threat, obstruction of justice and contempt.

Lewis’ 51 months in prison will run consecutive to the 151 months he is serving for possession of child pornography.

“Due process demands that a defendant have a meaningful opportunity to speak with a district judge at sentencing,” U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino said.

“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.”

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