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UTAH STATE PRISON — An inmate sent several threatening letters to members of the Utah Board of Pardons, resulting in new charges against him, according to court documents.
Ruben Jay Spencer, 21, allegedly started sending letters to board members in January, including one stating that "people in the community will be in danger" when he gets out of prison, charging documents state.
Spencer was charged Sept. 23 with making a threat against a judge or board member or their family members, a third-degree felony. The case was transferred Thursday from 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City to West Jordan.
In a June 17 letter, Spencer reportedly threatened to stalk the board members, stake out their houses, kidnap their families and blow their wives "to pieces."
He also allegedly wrote he would tie them up and cut off fingers, toes and heads. The letter reportedly ended with the statement that board members needed to "be prepared because (he is) coming" for them, charges state.
Spencer previously pleaded guilty to third-degree felony assault by a prisoner in September 2012 while incarcerated for an unspecified crime in Slate Canyon Youth Center, a juvenile detention facility in Provo, according to court documents.
In that case, Spencer threw a chair at an inmate but missed and broke a nearby computer, according to court documents. He threw another chair at a staff member, which hit the staff member in the head. Spencer continued to hit the staff member in the head until he was secured, court documents state.
Spencer was 18 years old at the time.
Chris Larson is a BYU news media major interning with Deseret News. Contact him at chlarson@deseretnews.com
