Police: Man charged in Texas mosque threat later apologized


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WATAUGA, Texas (AP) — Police say a man accused of calling a Fort Worth-area mosque threatening to decapitate Muslims later called back to apologize.

Watauga (wah-TAW'-guh) police Sgt. Jason Babcock said Wednesday that James Nicholas Smithey was arrested Aug. 19 on a misdemeanor harassment/threat charge and released on $500 bond.

The Masjid Al-Sahaabah mosque received the threatening message July 30. The caller identified himself as an Army veteran who won't allow Sharia law to be imposed in the U.S. The man says he and other veterans are "armed to the teeth."

Babcock says police tracked Smithey down from his phone number and that they believe he called back to apologize.

Smithey's phone number is not publicly listed and the Associated Press could not immediately reach him for comment.

If convicted, the 36-year-old Watauga man faces up to six months in jail.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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