A Wichita man charged with threatening to kidnap and kill mayor Brandon Whipple last year over the city’s mask mandate has pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct.

62-year-old Meredith Dowty was sentenced to 24 months probation with an underlying sentence of 30 days in jail for the misdemeanor offense.

Last June, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said during a preliminary hearing that Dowty had sent threatening messages directed at the mayor to former City Council member James Clendenin in 2020. Clendenin then reported the texts to police.

Dowty was originally charged with three counts of criminal threat, but his defense argued Dowty was exercising his First Amendment Rights.

Dowty’s texts included phrases such as “They should have their…throats slashed from ear to ear,” “I swear to kill all enemies,” and “[Whipple] has to deal with a hangman.”