Watauga man arrested, accused of threatening to behead mosque members

A recent drunken voicemail threat to cut off the heads of everyone at the Masjid Al-Sahaabah mosque fits into a pattern of hate crimes, threats and discrimination against Muslims “particularly in response to recent rhetoric from elected officials and people who are running for office of the president of the United States,” an area Muslim leader said Wednesday.

“The overall general anti-Muslim sentiment in the country is on the rise,” Alia Salem, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said.

Salem spoke at a news conference called in response to the news from Watauga police that a man accused of threatening mosque worshipers has been arrested.

James Nicholas Smithey, 36, who lives a mile from the mosque, surrendered to authorities Saturday after an arrest warrant was issued, police said.

Smithey was released shortly after posting bond. He could not be reached to comment Wednesday. He faces a Class B misdemeanor charge of harassment/threat, police said Wednesday.

Smithey is accused of leaving a voicemail message on Aug. 6 saying he was going to cut the heads off of everyone at the mosque.

Last week, he left a message apologizing, saying he had been drinking.

“I’m ashamed,” the message said. “I have no problems with you people.”

The message, almost two minutes long, began with the caller saying he lives in Watauga and is a U.S. Army veteran.

He repeatedly curses the mosque and its followers.

“I am a Christian,” the caller said. “I’m your ------ enemy.”

Near the end, he said, “We will cut all your heads off.”

Police Sgt. Jason Babcock said investigators tracked down Smithey from the phone number in the voicemail.

Smithey has no criminal history in the city except for a few traffic violations, according to Watauga police reports.

Mosque member Vincent Simon said that the mosque had no previous encounters with Smithey.

Bob Roberts and Lynn Nichols, pastors of two nearby Christian churches, attended the news conference to show support for their neighbors.

“To hear someone call himself a Christian, and threaten to come and decapitate Muslims, just broke my heart,” said Roberts, senior pastor of Northwood Church.

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 9:38 AM with the headline "Watauga man arrested, accused of threatening to behead mosque members."