Man who threatened sheriff, stars sentenced
A man who threatened to kill Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and stalked others was sentenced Friday to intensive lifetime probation. Gabriel Espinosa, 38, had been in jail since February 2000 after he was arrested for making a series of threats against Arpaio, television anchorwoman Jineane Ford, pop rock stars Madonna and Mariah Carey, and actress Christina Applegate.
"Arpaio, he's dead Saturday," Espinosa allegedly said during one telephone call. Espinosa also had been convicted of stalking in 1995. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of talking. He was sent to the Arizona State Hospital, a mental institution, for an indefinite period to be followed the probation. Under its terms, he is to have no contact with Arpaio or Ford and their families and to take medication for his mental condition.
Violation of probation could result in a prison sentence of up to 8 3/4 years. Investigators said Espinosa sent threatening cards and bizarre gifts to the three celebrities, decorating them with numbers that authorities said signify police codes for murder and shootings.
Authorities said Espinosa, an unemployed former van driver with an extensive criminal record, also had written threatening postcards to local television personalities Jana Bommersbach and John Hook. The cards were found during a search of his apartment. Many thanks to Regina from Mariah Daily.
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