Posted on 03/18/2005 6:00:11 PM PST by ambrose
Man pleads guilty to Cheney death threat
Friday, March 18, 2005
Special to the Gazette
A Wayland man who planned to crash his van into a campaign rally site faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to threatening to kill Vice President Dick Cheney.
Homer Shoup Jr., 51, who pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, also faces fines of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced June 16.
Shoup loaded his Ford van with a full tank of propane gas, a full 5-gallon gas can and three empty metal trash cans before departing for the site near Lansing where Cheney planned to speak at an Oct. 29 campaign rally.
He planned to crash the van into the rally venue, but the plot was foiled when members of the Michigan State Police and the Grand Rapids Police Department arrested him in Grand Rapids.
According to his 14-page plea agreement, Shoup dropped off a videotape at WOOD TV-8 in Grand Rapids before his arrest. The tape, which was turned over to police, contained a 15-minute recording of Shoup reading a prepared statement.
"In the statement, (Shoup) voiced numerous complaints about the U.S. government, American society, and about the administration of President Bush. (Shoup) repeatedly stressed his deep hatred of both the president and vice president. His complaints ranged from U.S. military actions in Iraq and civilian fatalities there, to global warming, to the activities of corporations such as Enron and Halliburton," the plea agreement said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen Frank said he believed Shoup's political views were so extreme that he nearly crossed the line into violent behavior.
"I think he kind of forgot that in this country our leaders are elected by law-abiding (voters) and not by bomb throwers or people who threaten to throw bombs," Frank said, adding that he was pleased with the plea agreement.
"I think the agreement is fair and appropriate," he said. "If I thought it did not serve the interests of the United States or of the Western District of Michigan, I would not have entered it on behalf of the United States."
Shoup's attorney, Kenneth Tableman, said he could not comment on the agreement but said his client, a former truck driver, is sorry about his actions.
"I think it's fair to say that Homer feels very badly about what happened," Tableman said.
Cheney spoke at a rally that was set to begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Capitol Center in Dimondale, south of Lansing. At 10:31 a.m., Shoup bought the fuel and propane in Wayland.
He dropped the videotape off at the TV station at about 11:45 a.m. and then used his cell phone to call 911 about eight minutes later.
He told the dispatcher at the state police post in Rockford that he had turned his van into a bomb and that he planned to crash it into the rally site to kill Cheney. Authorities tracked the cell-phone number to Shoup.
Shoup, who has a wife and two children, was arrested at about 1:40 p.m. in his van at Sixth Street Bridge Park in Grand Rapids. He was drinking beer and told police that he planned to kill Cheney, according to the plea agreement.
Watcha call a major case of PEST.
Meet the moderate face of the Democratic Party...
Sounds like he wanted to get caught.
It's amazing that these "peace" activists react with violence so frequently. What a joke.
Liberalism is a political alignment of peace. (c8
Nutball
I can't believe that John Kerry threatened to kill Cheney. Well, maybe not that surprising.
I wonder what his DU screen name is?
Gee, I wonder if ole Homer was upset about the civilian casualties in Serbia when Slick was wagging the dog?
I'm betting he wasn't.
Typical libtard.
5 years and $1/4Mil isn't enough.....
are=aren't
-Cheney spoke at a rally that was set to begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Capitol Center in Dimondale, south of Lansing. At 10:31 a.m., Shoup bought the fuel and propane in Wayland.
He dropped the videotape off at the TV station at about 11:45 a.m. and then used his cell phone to call 911 about eight minutes later.
That describes most of the people I work with.
Thankfully, stupid is as stupid does.
a former truck driver
Probably a card carrying Teamster union thug.
The Democrats are driving themselves nuts. This unreasonable hatred for George Bush is affecting their minds. Does anyone remember when we elected a President and the nation got behind him till next election? Lately they never let up with their hatred.
Frickin suicidal maniacs.
"Skinner", perhaps?
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