Affidavit: Man accused of emailing threats to San Antonio pastor

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats against a San Antonio church and its pastor, an arrest affidavit said.

William Edward Bender was charged with making terroristic threats after the pastor at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit reported to police that he was sending aggressive emails.

Bender, a former parishioner had been emailing the pastor since June and his emails contained racial, political and religious themes, the affidavit. Bender was also emailing third parties about the church saying things like “it was time to start killing people” and that he was going to “let those Democrats live for a while longer.”

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On Nov. 12, the pastor received another email that said “I think if Christ were to come back today, he’s spend a good bit of time punching you f—–s right in the mouth,” and saying that the pastor should be slapped for every “self-serving bullshit virtue signaling statement” he makes.

That email was also followed by a second one saying “You want priests getting covered in gasoline and set on fire? Because this is how you get priests covered in gasoline and set on fire,” the affidavit said.

After that email, Bender was told that he was no longer permitted to be on church property. Church leadership told police they had to take protective measures including hiring security, cutting attendance and no longer allowing children to attend services.

Bender was arrested Wednesday. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway

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