Grand jury indicts woman who allegedly threatened judge

Grand jury indicts woman who allegedly threatened judge

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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake woman with a history of mental competency questions was arrested Friday and accused of threatening to murder a federal judge.

Joan Osborn, 57, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City on Wednesday with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. judge. Because she allegedly threatened Judge Tena Campbell, who is a federal judge in Utah, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Idaho will prosecute the case.

The alleged threat happened in October, according to charging documents.

Her first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. If convicted, Osborn could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.

This isn't the first time Osborn has been accused of threatening a judge.

In both 2000 and 2002, she was charged in state court with influencing or retaliating against a judge or parole board member, a third-degree felony. The cases were dismissed after the Utah State Hospital continued to find her incompetent to proceed and requested that she be civilly committed, according to 3rd District Court records.

Osborn was also charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault in 2002. But the case was dismissed when issues of competency again were raised, according to court records.

In 1990, after being charged with prescription forgery, Osborn was found competent to stand trial, convicted and placed on probation, but ordered to undergo mental health treatment, according to court records.

In 1992, a charge of battery was dismissed after Osborn was sent to the Utah State Hospital, court records indicate.

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Pat Reavy

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