Man accused of threatening Kansas legislator will be tried
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A criminal trial was set to start Tuesday for a northeastern Kansas man who federal prosecutors say developed a fixation on U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner and threatened to kill him, at a time when authorities have seen a sharp increase in threats to the nation’s lawmakers and their families.
Prosecutors say Chase Neill, 32, threatened to kill LaTurner A voicemail message dated June 5, left at the Republican Congressman’s Office, and then continued to make threats the day after.
His federal trial on one count of threatening a public official was scheduled to begin Tuesday with jury selection, weeks after a judge concluded evidence of mental illness doesn’t mean Neill can’t help his attorney or follow what happens in court.
A pretrial report said Neill believes he is “the Messiah.” Prosecutors have said in court documents that Neill believes he was “obligated by God” to warn “certain public figures” and detail the results of not heeding his warnings.
U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter concluded during a hearing last month that “a preponderance of the evidence” showed Neill was mentally competent to stand trial. Official notes from the hearing show that Teeter relied upon a psychological assessment of Neill. However, this document is closed and sealed to the public.
In June 2022, a magistrate ordered Neill to remain under arrest. He said that Neill had also threatened other members Congress. The identities of the other defendants have not been released. Neill is charged with threatening LaTurner.
LaTurner served as a Kansas state senator, and was the state treasurer before he won his U.S. House position in 2020. Until the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature redrew political boundaries last year, LaTurner’s eastern Kansas district included Neill’s hometown of Lawrence, which includes the main University of Kansas campus and is among Kansas’ most liberal communities.
Members of Congress have seen a sharp rise in threats Insurrection at Washington’s U.S. Capitol has been ongoing for two years, since Jan. 6, 2021. In October an intruder attacked and severely beat then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husbAnd with a hammer in their San Francisco home.
Local school board members and election workers In the United States, many people have been victim to intimidation, harassment and threats of violent violence. Police in Albuquerque (New Mexico) arrested Monday a former Republican candidate to a seat in the New Mexico State House. a series of shootings Even though no Democratic elected officials were hurt, they were targeted.
In Kansas, Neill’s attorney and prosecutors declined comment to the media before the trial.
LaTurner’s office did not respond. Potential witnesses for prosecution include the congressman and four members of his staff.
The pretrial report on Neill, describing his “Messiah” belief, also said police in Lawrence had reports in March 2018 that Neill was delusional and paranoid and had accused one officer of trying to steal his “unicorn business idea.” Neill was sentenced to six months in jail in February 2019 on a domestic battery charge, the report said.
U.S. Magistrate Rachel Schwartz cited Rachel Schwartz’s pretrial report when refusing to release Neill from custody in August. Schwartz stated that Neill owed $150,000 to student loans, but had no income.
Schwartz also said in her order that Neill suffered a head injury four or five years ago “characterized as a head fracture.”
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