Grand jury indicts man for threats on Obama

A Crescent City man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in San Francisco on charges that he threatened in an e-mail to kill President Obama and members of his family.

The Triplicate reported last week that John Gimbel, 59, had been arrested in Crescent City by federal agents.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that an indictment issued Tuesday said Gimbel e-mailed a message Sept. 28 bearing a subject line that read, in part, “Kill the president” ... then write ‘fed s-’ on his chest with a felt tip.”

Obama arrived in San Franciso Thurdsay for fundraisers at the St. Francis Hotel.

Gimbel was indicted on charges of making threats against the president, threats against the president’s immediate family and threats transmitted through interstate communication, the Chronicle reported.

Gimbel is in custody, authorities said. The indictment did not say to whom he allegedly sent the e-mail.

Gimball has threatened public officials in the past, Del Norte County Sheriff Dean Wilson said last week.

“He’s threatened members of our staff, he’s threatened dozens of other individuals and on various occasions, the president,” said the sheriff.

Gimball was convicted of making threats toward Police Chief Doug Plack in 2004 on computer, according to Crescent City Police Department reports.

“His most recent arrest was for contempt of court and making annoying telephone calls,” Wilson said of Gimball. “He calls my office on average once a week or more, he contacts us and leaves lots of threatening messages.”

Wilson said the Secret Service had picked up Gimbel before on suspicion of making threats toward former President George W. Bush.