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Sacramento, CA - Suspect in Multiple Threats Declared Incompetent, Freed |
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Sacramento, CA - Charges in federal court against a man accused of making a series of menacing telephone calls were dismissed because he was declared incompetent. The man has a long history of making threats against prominent people.
Scott R. Hudson, who has a long history of mental illness and threats of violence, was charged with warning he would use fire or explosives and directing threatening calls to a Minnesota university.
The 54-year-old Hudson was arrested by FBI agents in December 2006 at a Chico motel where he was living, and he has since been held without bail.
On a motion by the prosecutor, U. S. District Judge William B. Shubb ordered the charges dismissed and Hudson released.
"It appears there is little likelihood that he will attain the capacity to proceed in the foreseeable future," Assistant U. S. Attorney Philip Ferrari said. "The government simply cannot prosecute Mr. Hudson on the pending charges at this point in time."
Shubb found that Hudson's release "would not create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another."
Court records show Hudson was first investigated by the FBI in 1996 in connection with threats made against U. S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. During that investigation, it was discovered that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also was investigating him in connection with threatening calls received in Canada. He also made threats against a synagogue in Orange County, a rabbi in suburban New York, a Jewish museum in Philadelphia and two New York City hotels.
As early as the mid-1970s, Hudson was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Southern California for allegedly "being dangerous with a gun in his possession," according to court records.
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Read Comments (2) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 27, 2008 at 12:41 AM NY Lawyer Says:
This doesn't make much sense. Usually if someone is found to be incompetent to stand trial (as this seems to be) the defendant is not just released, but is placed in a psychiatric facility until they are improved enough to stand trial. If they don't improve, they are usually kept committed. Is that what happened here or was he just released into the public?
2
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:13 AM murray Says:
agree with NY Lawyer, my question would be: can we have the FBI Declared Incompetent?