Grand Jury Indicts Westerville Man for Threatening Congressman

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged E. Stanley Hoff, 68, of Westerville with one count of threatening to assault and murder a United States official, a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States Capitol Police announced the indictment returned today.

The indictment alleges that Hoff threatened to assault and murder U.S Representative Steve Stivers and a member of Stivers’ family.

Hoff was charged by a criminal complaint on June 21, 2017 and arrested. An affidavit filed in support of the complaint alleges that Hoff left a threatening voice mail on Rep. Stivers’ Hilliard office phone. Hoff is being held without bond.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the U.S. Capitol Police and Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Kelley and Brian Martinez, who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.