A parolee accused of making an explicit murder threat set off alarms this week, triggering a rapid law-enforcement response aimed at preventing possible violence.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was contacted after a parole officer reported receiving text messages from a man on parole that included a direct threat to kill another individual. The messages identified both the sender and the intended target, raising immediate concern.
The parole officer requested a wellbeing check for the person named in the threat, citing the seriousness of the language and the potential for imminent harm. Deputies were able to locate the man and confirmed he was safe at the time of contact. He told deputies he had not received any new direct threats, though he had filed a report earlier in December involving the same parolee.
Deputies informed the man of the newly discovered messages and the specific threat made against him. He stated that he wanted to pursue charges if possible.
Screenshots of the text messages, dated December 1, 2025, were provided by the parole officer and included in the report.
The parolee who allegedly sent the messages was identified as James Schwab, who is on parole for prior convictions including vandalism, drug possession, and tampering with evidence. He was released on parole in October 2024.
State records list Schwab as an offender at large and advise he should be considered armed and dangerous.
