Immigrant charged with threatening federal prosecutors
September 25th, 2008 @ 11:40am
by Associated Press

A Mexican man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix for allegedly threatening to assault or kill the U.S. Attorney for Arizona and an assistant prosecutor, an official said Thursday.

Julian Javier Salazar-Martinez faces four charges, including threatening a public official and obstruction of justice.

The U.S. attorney's office in San Diego is prosecuting the case because the victims work for the Arizona office, said Christopher Tenorio, a prosecutor in the San Diego office who is assigned to the case.

Salazar-Martinez, 40, is accused of attempting to mail a letter to U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa and assistant U.S. Attorney Bret Alexander that threatened them if they prosecuted him for illegally re-entering the country after being deported.

He was arrested on June 10 at the border crossing in San Luis, Ariz. while trying to enter U.S., according to a criminal complaint charging him with illegal re-entry after being deported. He allegedly claimed to be a U.S. citizen born in Phoenix but later admitted he was an illegal immigrant.

While in federal custody in July, he tried to mail the threatening letter, but it was intercepted by jail guards, Tenorio said.

Salazar-Martinez remains in federal custody. His arraignment on the new charges hadn't yet been set, Tenorio said Thursday. A call to his attorney wasn't immediately returned.

Records show the Salazar-Martinez has been deported four times since 1989. He also has been convicted six times in Arizona and California since 1986 on various charges, including assault, theft and aggravated assault. He has twice been sent to prison in Arizona, according to court records.