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Oct 27, 2008 8:35 pm US/Central
3 Men Convicted Of Threatening Federal Judge
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
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Prosecutors say the conspiracy targeted Judge Ann Montgomery, who presided over Beale's first trial in April. (April)
CBS 3
Three people were convicted Monday of threatening a federal judge who was presiding over the tax evasion and conspiracy trial of a former millionaire businessman turned tax protester.
A jury in federal court in Minneapolis found each of the three guilty on one count of conspiracy to impede an officer and one count of obstruction of justice.
Robert Bonine Beale, 65, of North Oaks; Frederick Ogan Bond, 63, Champlin; and John Howard Pelton, 67, of Stillwater, were indicted in July.
Prosecutors said the conspiracy targeted U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery, who presided over Beale's first trial in April. In that case, Beale was convicted and sentenced to 11 years and two months in prison for failing to pay more than $1.6 million in taxes on over $5 million in personal income.
A fourth defendant, Norman William Poole, 43, of Blaine, pleaded guilty last month to one count of conspiracy.
The defendants were part of a self-described "common law court" led by Pelton and wanted to prevent Montgomery from holding Beale's trial, authorities allege. The group believed that only one judge has exclusive jurisdiction over people -- Jesus Christ.
They allegedly filed fraudulent liens, delivered false arrest warrants to law enforcement in an effort to get the judge arrested and otherwise planned to disrupt Beale's trial.
According to prosecutors, during a phone call Beale made to another person from jail, he said, "God wants me to destroy the judge. That judge is evil. He wants me to get rid of her." During another conversation, Beale said, "God wants me to take the judge out, that's what he wants me to do."
Beale, the former chief executive of Comtrol Corp., a computer parts company now under new ownership, spent part of his sentencing hearing last month arguing that the tax code didn't apply to him and denying the court had jurisdiction over him.
Each of the four defendants face a potential maximum potential penalty of six years in prison on the conspiracy to impede count. The obstruction count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb was brought in from North Dakota to handle the five-day trial because it involved a Minnesota judge. Webb will determine the sentences at a date to be announced.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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