Former Ft. Hood Soldier Convicted of Threatening to Shoot up the Post

A former Ft. Sam Houston soldier is facing up to ten years in prison after being convicted of threatening to kill individuals at Ft. Hood in a dispute over back pay, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.

Thomas Anthony Chestnut, Jr, who now lives in Dripping Springs, was convicted of one count of threatening to assault or murder a uniformed service member and one count of interstate communications with threat to injure.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Blanton says Chestnut called the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood earlier this year over a dispute over back pay he believed was owed him.

Blanton says during the conversation, Chestnut 'threatened to go to Fort Hood, kill the sergeant, take hostages, start a mass killing spree and then kill himself unless he was allowed to speak to an officer.'

The precautions were immediately taken," Blanton said.  

"These threats are taken seriously.  This is not a joking matter at all, especially given the history."

Back in 2009, an Army Major, Nidal Hasan, opened fire on soldiers and civilians at Ft. Hood, killing 13 people, before he was shot by Army police.  He was convicted of murder and is imprisoned at Ft. Leavenworth Kansas.

Records indicate that Chestnut, when he was in the Army, was convicted of sexual assault, but was released due to lack of evidence.


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