Posted on 06/08/2010 4:48:22 PM PDT by SandRat
A man who recently served as an adviser to John McCain's rival and once helped launch the Minuteman border watch movement has been accused by his estranged wife of threatening to kill their family and any police who try to protect them.
Chris Simcox's wife, who is seeking a divorce, alleges in court documents he brandished a gun and threatened to shoot his family on at least two occasions in late 2009 _ four years after he became instrumental in founding the Minuteman movement, which brought thousands of anti-illegal immigration activists to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border and report suspected illegal migrants to the border patrol.
Simcox, 49, most recently worked as an adviser to U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, who hopes to unseat McCain in Arizona's Aug. 24 Republican primary.
The allegations against Simcox were first reported last week by the alternative newsweekly Phoenix New Times, and McCain's re-election campaign circulated the story to reporters.
A judge in Phoenix granted an order of protection on April 16, ordering Simcox to surrender his firearms and stay at least 200 yards away from his family.
In her petition for an order of protection, Alena Simcox, 30, his third wife, alleges that she came home from shopping Nov. 29 to find her husband intoxicated. She writes that he threatened her with a gun, "repeatedly pointed it at me, saying he was going to kill me, and my kids, and the police."
Alena Simcox describes a six-hour ordeal during which she locked herself and her three children in a bedroom until he passed out at 2 a.m. Afraid for her safety, she did not call the police.
"He was waiting by the door for the police to come, with a gun pointed at me," she wrote.
Alena Simcox also described a separate incident on Aug. 22, 2009: "On our wedding anniversary, he was drinking and angry. Got a revolver gun and loaded with kids present. Then proceeded to ask me to 'shoot him.' I said 'no,' so then he said he would shoot the entire family and cops."
Simcox denied his wife's allegations but declined to say more, citing the advice of his lawyer.
"The allegations are absolutely untrue, and the rest will be divulged when we head to court," he said.
The alleged threats are the latest episode in a troubled family life for Chris Simcox.
His first wife accused him of trying to molest their teenage daughter, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group that has warned about extremism in the Minuteman movement.
His second wife filed an emergency motion to obtain full custody of their teenage son because it seemed Chris Simcox was undergoing a mental breakdown and growing dangerous following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the SPLC reported in 2005, based on an examination of court records in Los Angeles.
In April 2004, a federal judge sentenced Chris Simcox to two years of probation for carrying a firearm on national forest property. In that case, he was found guilty of knowingly entering Coronado National Memorial in January 2003 with a weapon and giving false information to a park ranger by denying that he was carrying a weapon.
"What is most incredible of all is that Chris Simcox managed to make himself into a leader for a short period of time and was actually taken seriously," said Mark Potok, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project, which tracks hate groups.
McCain's campaign has seized on Simcox's work for Hayworth, a former congressman and talk-radio host who is challenging McCain from the right.
"It's deeply troubling that Congressman Hayworth would employ as his senior adviser, and use as a key campaign supporter, someone with Mr. Simcox's well-documented history of violent, abusive behavior," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said. "It calls into question Congressman Hayworth's judgment."
Chris Simcox resigned as Minuteman president and announced in April 2009 that he would challenge McCain in the GOP primary. He dropped out of the race in February and threw his support to Hayworth, who was better known and has gained more traction against the four-term senator.
Hayworth spokesman Mark Sanders confirmed that Chris Simcox did some work for the campaign in the past but is no longer affiliated. He declined further comment.
Alena Simcox filed for divorce on April 19, three days after the order of protection was issued. A judge temporarily granted her full custody of the couple's two children, ages 2 and 3. She also has an 8-year-old child from a previous relationship, according to court documents.
The couple have been married for five years. Chris Simcox has requested joint custody of the couple's children.
Of course, azcentral has this front and center, tying him to JD Hayworth.
“Once served” meaning no longer serving? Let the mud fly!
SOunds like the usual list of sex, violence, ad nauseam Libtard charges filed against the man in a divorce case.
All seem to boil down to the usual questionable claims made by the enraged female screaming: “Him done it!”
Tactic from dirtbag-divorce lawyer 101.
Yadda, yadda, yadda. What kind of underwear did she have on?
Yea, but it is his third divorce and there were ugly accusations in all three. Either he has some skeletons in his closet or really, really bad sense when it come to choosing a wife.
Oh yeah, this will make the Rachael Maddow show...
Anything the Southern Poverty Law Center is involved with is highly suspicious.
McCain must be getting desperate.
Ya know?
Given that this has occurred 3 times now you have to wonder.
If Hayworth is smart, he’d drop him immediately. IF Hayworth really wants the best of chances, he can’t afford to give the McCain camp any ammo whatsoever.
“Chris Simcox’s wife,who is seeking a divorce alleges in court documents he brandished a gun and threatened to shoot his family on at least two occasions in late 2009”
And she reported it to the police each time? I think not.
The guy does seem to have more than his fair share of baby mama drama.
Good old Johnny boy, always looking out for the best interests of the American public himself.
Chris Simcox - his (extremely wealthy) wife, Alena and their three small children.
There is no mention of the two previous Simcox marriages, and his other children. allegedly cashed in his son’s college fund so he could form the Minutemen. ....Simcox had a daughter with his first wife, Deborah Crews.
Simcox also doesn’t mention the fact that the second ex-wife, Kim Dunbar, does not allow Simcox to be anywhere near their son. In sworn testimony Dunbar admits that Simcox has an explosive rage problem, where he would break furniture, car windows and threaten to commit suicide.
One time Simcox, hit his four year old son so hard that a mark remained on the child’s face for several days. Enraged, Simcox was throwing furniture at his terrified wife, who gathered the child in her arms and escaped through a window.
Dunbar thinks Simcox had some sort of a breakdown following 9/11. No longer living with his ex-wife and son, Simcox left a series of bazaar and threatening messages on Dunbar’s answering machine.
These messages were submitted to the court in order for Dunbar to insure Simcox was denied access to their son, who was by that time, a teenager. Until that time, the couple shared custody of their son….”
What 911 calls from the house were there?
This could be factual, or it could just be a ploy to get a restraining order.
I don’t like to come out on either side at this point, and of course that’s just what such charges are meant to facilitate.
Simcox’s background was well known from day 1
Another reason many people were glad to support McCain.
Into the campaign, after JD paid back Jack Abramoff so he could enter the race, Simcox then supported JD
I never bothered myself to really check since he was never (or never seemed to be to me) truly a serious candidate against McCain.
“...Simcox left a series of bazaar and threatening messages on Dunbar’s answering machine....These messages were submitted to the court...”
It is documented.
Didn’t he also have a problem with Minutemen money a few years ago?
Doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you want to have to defend when he works on your side.
>Didn’t he also have a problem with Minutemen money a few years ago?>
Yes he did in large amounts.
The latest conservative fad is throwing the incumbents out, in favor of new guys.
The risk is getting unvetted goofballs.
Sounds like Simcox may have a drinking problem.
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