Massachusetts man convicted of threatening Republican state lawmaker

Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald on Nov 14, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — A Cape Cod state representative says “justice has been served” after a jury convicted a local man of making threats against the elected Republican lawmaker, which included the statement, “I will not support you or your Trumpism.”

Rep. Steven Xiarhos, a Barnstable Republican, is thanking Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois and his office for prosecuting James Spence, a 63-year-old Dennis resident set to serve six months in jail.

Xiarhos told the Herald that he’s “not afraid to do the job I was elected to do. I chose a life of service. But that service should not come with death threats.”

“The rise in threats, attempted assassinations, and violence against public officials has become a crisis in this country,” the representative said via text message Thursday evening. “We’ve seen leaders attacked in their homes, on their lawns, and at community events. It often starts with dangerous rhetoric, just like the threats made by Mr. Spence, and if we ignore it, it can lead to real tragedy.

Xiarhos, a former 40-year veteran of the Yarmouth Police Department, received threats earlier this year, on Feb. 25, in response to a social media post the state representative made that day.

“Tell your tyrant to reel it in or the people will burn your house, office and tar and feather you in the streets of Hyannis,” Spence told Xiarhos. “I will not support you or your Trumpism. This is a warning of what the people are saying.”

The Barnstable Police Department investigated the threat and determined that Spence was the individual behind the username and associated image of the account that sent the message.

Spence reportedly admitted to making the threat when Barnstable PD spoke with him about the threatening message, Galibois’ office stated.

The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office recommended that Spence serve six months in local jail, the the maximum sentence allowable under the statute.

The court sentenced Spence to six months at the Barnstable County House of Correction after an 18-month suspension. Spence has been ordered to stay away from and have no contact with Xiarhos. He also must attend mental health counseling.

“Public officials, regardless of their political affiliation, should be able to carry out their duties without fear for their safety or that of their families,” Galibois said in a statement. “Our office remains committed to protecting every member of this community including those elected to represent our residents from acts of violence, threats and intimidation.”

Xiarhos said he is “pleased that justice has been served in the form of a conviction, and I am looking forward to moving on from this very disturbing incident.”

-----------