Found here: *
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aber...ws/4602545.htm
Posted on Mon, Nov. 25, 2002
Man who threatened Bush: Drought will worsen if he's persecuted
CARSON WALKER
Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A Portland, Ore., man who threatened President Bush told a federal judge Monday that South Dakota's drought will worsen if he doesn't get credit for mistakes in his criminal record.
Richard Humphreys also told U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol that if he shows mercy in sentencing, God will show mercy to him.
Humphreys, wearing a prison uniform and a scruffy beard, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday for remarking about a "burning Bush" during the president's March 2001 trip to Sioux Falls.
But after a two-hour hearing, Humphreys' lawyer was given until next week to argue why his client should get less time in prison and not more. Sentencing now is scheduled for Dec. 6. Humphreys could get up to five years in prison.
He was arrested in Sioux Falls and indicted for threatening to kill or harm the president.
In September, a federal jury took just over an hour to convict him.
Humphreys has said the comment about a "burning Bush" was a prophecy that offers First Amendment protection.
He calls himself prophet Israel Humphreys. He said a similar reference he made in a Christian Internet chatroom was a joke and that neither can be viewed as a threat on the president.
During a 45-minute address to Piersol Monday, Humphreys said he was wrongfully imprisoned for two years and that other charges against him such as disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and making terrorist threats should not be weighed against him in the current case.
He said many of the marks on his record are from being harassed by local law enforcement who put him on a "police haters list" and interfered with his church teachings.
"It's not the evilness of the person before you but the county that was evil," Humphreys told Piersol, who listened expressionless. "I think you're a wise enough man to look at some of this and say this is church business."
Humphreys said that because he's a prophet, South Dakota will suffer if he is persecuted.
"The Bible says that if you mistreat a prophet, you will have drought," he said.
Humphreys also said Piersol's eternity could be affected by the sentence. "God says what mercy you show will be showed toward you," he told the judge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hack said Humphreys gets in trouble with the law wherever he goes and deserves a longer sentence.
"This is an individual who uses religion as a shield," Hack said.
Humphreys' lawyer, William Delaney, said his client has a history of mental illness "and shouldn't be punished for that."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and here: *
http://www.kezi.com/content/contentID/1390
(Sioux Falls, South Dakota-AP) -- A Portland, Oregon man who threatened President Bush is sentenced today to more than three years in prison.
U-S District Court officials in South Dakota say Richard Humphreys might get credit for the 20 months he's already been in custody.
Humphreys made a remark about a "burning Bush" during the president's March 2001 trip to Sioux Falls. He had said the comment was a prophecy that offers First Amendment protection.
Humphreys was arrested and indicted for threatening to kill or harm the president.
In September, a federal jury convicted him. Outside the courthouse today, Humphreys said he plans to appeal.
During his trial in September, Humphreys testified that he had been arrested 25 times. He says the indictment on the threat charge in South Dakota resulted from government profiling.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmmmm..... this obviously was not the first time this guy was in trouble..... <_<
<_<
You all can draw your own conclusions....
/JD
Btw- I could not find anything to substantiate this:
I'm going to quote from memory again, but this one is easy to check out, It was in the mainstream news recently. In reply to a reporter's question, Bush said "You don't get to decide when we go to war, I get to decide that!" (I think that's an exact quote).
Can you please show me where that was found?
Threaded Mode