Man continues 'war' from his prison cell, police say

Despite his imprisonment, a former Loganville man is continuing his "war" with the York County government, threatening a corrections officer and breaking a glass pane with his hand, according to charging documents.

Howard Timothy Cofflin, 57, more recently of Maryland, was charged in January in connection with planning to kill his ex-girlfriend and "go to war" with state police by blowing up their barracks, and kill county judges.

READ: Cofflin's attorney saved lives, police say

Cofflin's jury trial in York County Court of Common Pleas on the charges is set to begin Oct. 31.

However, now he will have to contend with a new set of charges, stemming from an alleged incident at the York County Prison on Sept. 6, where he is being held without bail.

According to state police, who investigate incidents at the prison, Cofflin told them he harbored ill will against a correctional officer "because he feels he is at war with the York County Government," documents state.

The correctional officer, Garry Bowser, said that at 6:35 a.m. on Sept. 6, he told Cofflin, who was inside his cell, to remove paper that had been placed over the cell's window. The paper obstructed correctional officers' view inside.

Cofflin then called Bowser several derogatory terms and told the officer to come inside his cell "so he could snap his neck and kill him," documents state. Cofflin then punched the window, causing it to shatter. As other officers escorted Cofflin away, he said to Bowser, "I will get you in the hall."

He escaped York's violence ... and thrived

Cofflin told state police he was trying to kill Bowser when he struck the window, documents state. "I wanted to shove his nose bone up into his brain," he told police.

Cofflin now faces terroristic threats, institutional vandalism and criminal mischief charges. He is awaiting a preliminary hearing before District Judge Barry Bloss.

Previous charges

Pennsylvania State Police charged Cofflin in January, relating to incidents they said took place in the fall of 2015.

"He could have leveled at least a portion of this building and killed several people," police Capt. Adam Kosheba said during a news conference in January at the barracks in Loganville. "He had one part left to build his AR-15 (rifle)."

On display were propane tanks police believed Cofflin planned to use for explosive devices.

Police said he purchased parts to fabricate the AR-15, supplies to build improvised explosive devices, and body armor and ammunition.

"This is one individual with one goal and one agenda," York County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Tim Barker said at the time.

Contact reporter Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.