CLAY COUNTY — A Colorado man has been indicted in federal court for making threats against the Clay County Sheriff’s Department following a West Point beating that left a veteran in the hospital.
Bruce William Oxenford, 30, was indicted on Oct. 23 after he allegedly sent an email to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department threatening to cause bodily harm to law enforcement. According to court documents, the subject line of the email read: “you’re a piece of s***….” The body of the email contained a threat saying, “You better serve the white community as much as the n***** community or the klan will burn you’re a** from a cross.”
The email was sent on Aug. 26. Ralph Weems IV was beaten on Aug. 23 in the West Point Huddle House parking lot. A witness on scene said he and Weems were told the restaurant “wasn’t safe for whites.” Local law enforcement said they have found nothing to support that claim.
Sheriff Eddie Scott said he received the email and immediately notified the FBI.
“We sent it to them and the U.S. Attorney thought it was credible enough so they went after it,” Scott said Saturday.
Documents filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on Oct. 1 claim Oxenford bought several guns and knives in August as well as multiple rounds of ammunition and military style clothing. The documents claim Oxenford is employed and lives in Colorado but is homeless. He does not have a telephone and only communicates through email, according to court documents. In an email, Oxenford claimed the beating of Weems was retaliation for the beating of Micheal Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Oxenford was arraigned on Oct. 28 and pleaded not guilty.
The U.S. Attorney asked the court for a psychiatric evaluation of Oxenford. The motion was granted. Oxenford’s trial date was set for Dec. 15. He is free on a $5,000 bond, according to Scott. If convicted, Oxenford could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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