Kentucky man sentenced after threat to have federal agent ‘sodomized by a farm animal’
A Kentucky man who threatened a federal agent the day after being sentenced for an earlier threat against the same officer has been given another five years and three months in prison.
The cases are rooted in a case against the man’s son, who admitted killing his pregnant girlfriend in March 2019 to keep her from telling authorities about his involvement in selling methamphetamine.
The defendant in that case was Daniel Scott Nantz. Nantz shot his girlfriend, Geri D. Johnson, 29, then dropped her off at the hospital in Corbin.
Johnson, who was seven months pregnant, choked on her blood and was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to court records.
Doctors tried to save her baby, named Amelia Jo, but she died three days later at the University of Kentucky hospital.
The lead investigator on the case against Daniel Nantz was Todd Tremaine, a senior special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who testified against Nantz.
That angered Nantz’s father, William Nantz, of Whitley County.
Nantz later admitted that on Oct. 4, 2021, he made a threat against Tremaine, telling one of the agent’s neighbors that he had watched Tremaine’s house, described his wife and one of their vehicles, and said he knew the times Tremaine’s family walked their dog.
Nantz also said he had four sticks of dynamite “that will do a lot,” according to the court record.
The neighbor notified authorities. Police arrested Nantz and he ultimately pleaded guilty to retaliating against a witness.
On Oct. 11, 2022, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier sentenced him to 70 months in prison.
The next day, Oct. 12, 2022, Nantz was at the jail in Laurel County before being transferred to a federal prison.
During a video visit from the jail, which was recorded, Nantz referred to his “agitation” over the victim impact statement Tremaine had submitted as part of the first threat case, and threatened him again, according to the court record.
Nantz threatened to have the agent “sodomized by a farm animal” and then made a gesture indicating he would shoot Tremaine with a pistol, Nantz admitted in a plea agreement.
On several occasions later, Nantz referred to his desire to “take care of” Tremaine.
Wier sentenced Nantz to an additional 63 months in prison on Nov. 8, to be served on top of the remaining time from his earlier sentence.
Wier also recommended that Nantz have access to any appropriate mental-health treatment, including a screening that “should include anger management and decision-making as subject matters.”
Federal authorities said in a news release that the case highlights the dangers that police can face.
“The brazen disregard for the victims and the law in this case is nothing short of appalling,” U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV said.
