Nevada Man Charged with Making Threats Against Stockton Police Officers
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 30, 2009 |
SACRAMENTO, CA—Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging GEORGE JACOBSEN, 46, of Reno, Nev., formerly of Stockton, with transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce.
This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Stockton Police Department.
“Any time an officer is threatened is a serious matter. However, the defendant’s outrageous online threats to kill Stockton police officers and their children is beyond the pale and worthy of every day he is confined in federal prison,” stated Acting United States Attorney Brown.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Robin R. Taylor, who is prosecuting the case, JACOBSEN created and managed an Internet community site, MSN Group, which he entitled “Ways2KillAStocktonPoliceOfficer,” and used this web group to post threatening messages. He also posted threatening entries on “StocktonCityWatch,” another MSN Group.
JACOBSEN created a photo album on “Ways2KillAStocktonPoliceOfficer” entitled “hit list,” with photographs of police officers that included messages. He created numerous links on that web group which included: “22 Ways to kill a Stockton Police Officer with your hands,” “Police Officers Home Address And family info.” “How to blow up a police car,” “The Joy of Killing Young Republicans,” “Revenge on Police officers Children at college,” “10 Ways To Kill A Police Officer,” “Kill a Cop,” and “Stockton Police Officers Damned to Hell.”
JACOBSEN specifically targeted at least four police officers making threats to kill.
If convicted of these charges, JACOBSEN faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. However, the actual sentence will be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and will be imposed at the discretion of the court.
The charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.