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Feds: Indicted Man Had Been Warned About Threatening Emails

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We're getting a few more details on John Gimbel, the California man we told you about Friday, who's been charged for sending a racist, profanity-filled email that called for the death of President Obama and for the words "Fed shit" to be written on his chest -- an apparent reference to the recent death of a Census Bureau worker in what seems to have been an act of anti-government violence.

This wasn't the first such email Gimbel has sent, say the Feds. He fired off a similar one earlier last month, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Secret Service, and reported by the AP.

According to the complaint, Gimbel admitted to sending the first message when officers interviewed him at his home. He said his intention wasn't to hurt Obama, but rather to get attention.

Gimbel was warned that he'd be prosecuted if he sent more messages. But apparently he couldn't help himself.

And it sounds like the email messages aren't the only evidence of Gimbel's volatility. When authorities were seeking an arrest warrant, they asked to be allowed to enter Gimbel's house without knocking, citing the facts that during an earlier arrest, he had been found by sheriff's deputies with a loaded handgun, and that some of his earlier emails included threats against law enforcement.

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October 19, 2009 10:40 AM   

He said his intention wasn't to hurt Obama, but rather to get attention.

Well then, congratulations Mr. Gimbel, you succeeded in your mission.

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October 19, 2009 10:48 AM    in reply to TBender

Wonder how much "attention" he'll get in Federal prison?

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October 19, 2009 11:03 AM    in reply to The Old Grouch

I'm always amazed that some people feel that rape is just punishment for whatever the miscreant is in prison for. On TV crime shows, the perp is always being threatened with it, in comments like these someone always mentions it, with an implied "heh, heh, heh." Not funny, not justified, not right regardless of the original crime.

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October 19, 2009 11:26 AM    in reply to toxophilite

Not necessarily what I'm suggesting, but thanks for playing.

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October 19, 2009 11:36 AM    in reply to toxophilite

You are absolutely right. Most folks who make comments about prison concitions don't really mean what they are saying. I believe someone in prison is now the responsibility of the State. We, the state, are responsible for the prisoner's welfare. Allowing beatings and rapes in prison is the same as condeming the convicted person to torture. America doesn't do that, I thought.

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October 19, 2009 12:05 PM    in reply to Spyder308

Spyder,

sure, rational people condemn beatings and rape in our prisons,
however, I'm sure I can think of some I would shed no tears over if they were victimized like this while in prison.

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October 19, 2009 2:39 PM    in reply to JohnW1141

sure, rational people condemn beatings and rape in our prisons

Well, those of them willing to bring it up in conversation, or just plain think about it. The vast majority do not condemn such things, tending instead to ignore their existence entirely. That we get such criticism at all suggests some small improvement.

Back to the topic - I suspect that one of two things is the case:
1. this individual is more interested in 3 squares and a cot than actual attention
2. this individual does NOT fall in the "above-average" intelligence category. He may not even fall into the "mentally competent" category.

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