Chase Neill: Self-proclaimed 'God's messenger' convicted for threatening to kill Kansas rep Jake LaTurner
TOPEKA, KANSAS: A Kansas man who insisted that a death threat he made against US rep, Jake LaTurner, was a message from God was found guilty. This comes after what officials claim is a dramatic increase in threats against members of Congress and their families. A federal court jury determined that Lawrence resident Chase Neill, 32, was guilty of one count of threatening a US government official.
On the witness stand on Wednesday, January 18, Neill functioned as his own attorney and cross-examined LaTurner. Neill testified Thursday, January 19, that he was a "messenger from God" who "delivered a message from God" threatening LaTurner for dismissing worries about magic, wizards, extraterrestrials, and a war for people's souls.
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Federal prosecutors claimed that Neill had a fixation on LaTurner before calling the congressman's Topeka office on June 5 and saying, "I will kill you." LaTurner said in his testimony that he increased security at his home and Topeka office out of concern for the safety of his family and workers. “You cannot cloak yourself in religious belief and justify such a threat,” federal prosecutor Stephen Hunting said in his closing remarks. “There is a line you cannot cross," as per Local 4.
Because Neill was defending himself, the judge ordered him to give his testimony as a narrative from the witness stand on Thursday, January 19. Neill halted his remarks to ensure that documents were displayed on four large screens on a wall behind him, as well as to speak with the court and prosecutors about what evidence would be permitted. Prosecutors did not question him.
Neill acknowledged in court that he left additional death threats the day after the voicemail from June 5 and others. He claimed, however, that he was delivering a message from God, warning LaTurner and other officials that they risked dying in a natural disaster like a tornado or hurricane for harming God's creation. “This is not me saying, ‘I’m going to chase you down with a knife,’ or something like that,” Neill said in his closing argument as per Local 4.
The presiding judge advised the jury that they had to come to the conclusion that Neill had made a genuine threat and meant to either intimidate LaTurner or obstruct his duties as a Republican congressman representing eastern Kansas in order to find him guilty.
Neill sat quietly as US District Judge Holly Teeter read the jury's decision, which came after around two hours of deliberation. He graciously declined to poll the jury and, when asked if Neill had anything else to say about the matter, he said calmly, "No, your honor."
His mother, Pamela Neill, who had been watching the three-day trial, told him, "I love you," as a marshal arrested him. "He never raised a hand on anybody," his mother said as she exited the courthouse, holding back tears.
Neill's sentencing was set for April 11 by Teeter. He might be sentenced to ten years in jail and pay a $250,000 fine.