Idaho man sentenced for threatening an FBI agent – East Idaho News

The next is a information launch from the U.S. Division of Justice for the District of Idaho.

BOISE – A federal choose sentenced a Middleton man to a few years of supervised probation for threatening an FBI Agent, U.S. Legal professional Josh Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, introduced Friday.

In keeping with court docket data, Jerald Reutzel, 48, of Middleton, Idaho, contacted a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Particular Agent via textual content messaging in November of 2020. Within the textual content message, Reutzel falsely accused the FBI agent of failing to analyze an area crime, referred to the agent with profane slurs, and threatened to assault the agent. Reutzel despatched the risk on account of the FBI agent’s efficiency of his official duties and meant to threaten the FBI Particular Agent. Reutzel was interviewed by regulation enforcement, the place he admitted to sending the textual content message, acknowledged the message was threatening, however denied intending to hold out the risk.

Chief U.S. District Decide David C. Nye additionally gave Reutzel credit score for serving 136 days in custody, and ordered he pay a $500 superb and a $100 particular evaluation.

“On the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, considered one of our most solemn obligations is to help our regulation enforcement companions. Regulation enforcement brokers shield the American individuals from violent crime, terrorism, and different threats to their security, typically at nice private sacrifice and danger,” stated U.S. Legal professional Hurwit. “Our workplace is not going to tolerate threats of violence towards these public servants at any stage.”

U.S. Legal professional Hurwit made the announcement and counseled the mixed efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canyon County Sheriff’s Workplace, which led to fees.