Current:Home > MarketsMontana man intends to plead guilty to threatening US Sen. Jon Tester-InfoLens
Montana man intends to plead guilty to threatening US Sen. Jon Tester
View Date:2024-12-23 14:42:31
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man intends to plead guilty to threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester under the terms of a deal filed Monday by federal prosecutors.
Anthony James Cross of Billings faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing if the plea agreement is accepted by the court. A second charge based on allegations that Cross also threatened to kill President Joe Biden would be dismissed at sentencing, according to a court filing by his defense attorney.
A court date has not yet been scheduled.
Cross, 30, has been jailed since late April, when he was arrested on a state charge for allegedly threatening a neighbor with a pellet gun. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge and was scheduled to go on trial in late October but the proceeding has been delayed, according to court records.
Threats against public officials in the U.S. have been steadily climbing in recent years, including against members of Congress and their spouses, election workers and local elected officials.
Federal prosecutors alleged in a September indictment that Cross said, “I will personally kill Joe Biden,” on April 10 and threatened Tester’s life on April 17. The indictment did not indicate how the threats were made.
Cross’ federal defender, Gillian Gosch, did not return a voicemail seeking comment. A phone number for Cross’ attorney in the state case, Robert Kelleher Jr., repeatedly rang busy.
Tester’s office declined comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The plea deal comes after another Montana man, Kevin Patrick Smith of Kalispell, was sentenced in August to 2 1/2 years in prison for threatening to kill Tester in voicemails left at his office in Kalispell.
A third Montana man accused of making threats against a high-ranking Washington official pleaded not guilty in October and is awaiting trial. Richard Lee Rogers of Billings has denied the allegations that he threatened during phone calls to assault and kill former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Rogers’ attorney on Monday asked a judge to delay his trial that was scheduled to begin next month.
veryGood! (52)
Related
- Princess Kate makes rare public appearance after completing cancer chemo
- Critics slam posthumous Gabriel García Márquez book published by sons against his wishes
- Opening remarks, evidence next in manslaughter trial of Michigan school shooter’s dad
- Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik set to reunite in 'Young Sheldon' series finale
- Caitlin Clark shanks tee shot, nearly hits fans at LPGA's The Annika pro-am
- Activists and members of Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community protest reported police harassment
- Betty Ford forever postage stamp is unveiled at the White House
- Stock market today: Asian shares trade mixed after Wall Street recovers
- 4 arrested in California car insurance scam: 'Clearly a human in a bear suit'
- SEC approves rule that requires some companies to publicly report emissions and climate risks
Ranking
- Should Georgia bench Carson Beck with CFP at stake against Tennessee? That's not happening
- TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as ‘a step into the future’
- Rust Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
- Kentucky GOP lawmakers override governor and undo efforts to prevent renter discrimination
- Exclusive Yankee Candle Sale: 50% Off Holiday Candles for a Limited Time
- A timeline of restrictive laws that authorities have used to crack down on dissent in Putin’s Russia
- Here's the Republican delegate count for the 2024 primaries so far
- Photos of male humpback whales copulating gives scientists peek into species' private sex life
Recommendation
-
John Krasinski Details Moment He Knew Wife Emily Blunt Was “the One”
-
Kentucky man says lottery win helped pull him out of debt 'for the first time in my life'
-
Alyssa Naeher makes 3 saves and scores in penalty shootout to lift USWNT over Canada
-
Critics slam posthumous Gabriel García Márquez book published by sons against his wishes
-
Kraft Heinz stops serving school-designed Lunchables because of low demand
-
What these red cows from Texas have to do with war and peace in the Middle East
-
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips ends Democratic primary challenge and endorses President Joe Biden
-
NHL trade deadline: Key players still available after Wednesday's trading frenzy