DENNIS, Mass. —

A Dennis, Massachusetts, man was convicted by a Barnstable District Court jury for threatening state Rep. Steve Xiarhos on social media earlier this year.

James Spence, 63, was found guilty of one count of threat to commit a crime (arson).

On Feb. 25, 2025, Spence responded to a message Xiarhos made on a social media page.

Spence's message read in part, “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. I will not support you or your Trumpism. This is a warning of what the people are saying,” according to court documents.

Barnstable police were alerted and determined Spence owned the profile. When detectives spoke with Spence about the threatening message, Spence admitted to it, according to Cap

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