Posted: 8/17/04
Arkansas man jailed for making threats
Two men were arraigned in Third District Court in Caledonia on separate incidents on August 12.
ï Rickey George, 40, is charged with one count of making terroristic threats, a felony; and two counts of disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, attorney Ross Phelps of La Crescent turned over a letter to Houston County Attorney Richard Jackson on the afternoon of August 10 stating that George had made a threat by telephone against the current foster parents of Georgeís children.
George had made the call from the Houston County Jail, where he had been placed after being arrested on August 9 for allegedly violating a harassment restraining order.
George was released from jail on August 10 after that call was made, but before authorities were aware of its content. After Phelpsí letter arrived, deputies arrested George at his residence at the Red Carpet Inn in Caledonia.
George was in a heavily sedated stat. He told deputies that he consumed a number of his prescribed blood pressure pills. He was seen by a doctor in Caledonia, then taken to Rochester for further evaluation.
At the arraignment, Judge Fabian told George that he would need a public defender from outside the county, because attorney Phelps would be testifying against him. Phelps is a Houston County public defender, so this would create a conflict with other Houston County public defenders, Fabian said.
The judge said he wanted to make sure the people in the community were safe and that George himself was safe.
George said he was not suicidal. ìI want my kids, Iíll do whatever it takes,î he said.
Assistant county attorney Harnack said she was concerned with Georgeís ability to be rational, and with his volatile, unpredictable behavior. She noted that he had made threats to make Caledonia ìa living hellî and had said ìIíll get you, wait and seeî to her staff.
His statements to the foster family taking care of his children have also caused alarm, Harnack said.
George said he knows he is making people mad, and he will volunteer to see a psychiatrist. ìI donít know what to do,î he said as part of a rambling, tear-filled response.
Judge Fabian set unconditional bail at $3,000 and conditional bail at $1,000. George was in the Houston County Jail as of August 16. His next hearing date has not been set.
ï Odell Thompson, 19, 1320 Lancer Blvd., #213, La Crescent, was also arraigned on August 12.
He is charged with first degree burglary, a felony; fourth degree burglary a gross misdemeanor; violation of domestic abuse no contact order, a misdemeanor; and obstructing the legal process, a gross misdemeanor.
They stem from an August 12 incident in Caledonia in which Thompson allegedly broke into a home and confronted an ex-girlfriend who had filed an order for protection against him.
Judge James Fabian set unconditional bail at $20,000 and conditional bail at $10,000. This was twice as much as Houston County Assistant Attorney Suzanne Harnack had requested.
Harnack said she was concerned with Thompsonís record of criminal damage to property and breaking an order for protection. ìI think thereís some big public safety concerns,î she said.
She noted that Thompson had previously been found guilty in Wisconsin on June 17, 2004 for criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct
The bail amount drew a muttered complaint from Thompson, and some loud and angry ones from a friend of Thompsonís in the courtroom in the second floor of the courthouse.
Fabian told the woman to be quiet or he would put her in jail too. She lowered her tone and took her comments into the hallway.
Thompson posted bail on August 12. His next court appearance is August 24 at 11 a.m.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com