McCook inmate threatens president, faces federal charges

LINCOLN, Nebraska -- A McCook man serving 3-5 years in state prison could receive an additional five years in federal prison amid allegations that he sent a letter threatening the life of President Barrack Obama.

According to a report on the Lincoln Journal Star website, 20-year-old Nebraska State Penitentiary inmate Loren J. Hamlin of McCook has been indicted on suspicion of making threats against the president of the United States.

In the federal indictment, Hamlin is accused of saying specifically that when he is released from prison he would "track down" the president and kill him.

The report stated it was unclear if the letter was sent or intercepted first by the Department of Correctional Services. If convicted of the federal indictment, Hamlin could get as many as five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Hamlin was one of three men involved in the August 2010 break-in at the McCook JC Penney's department store. He was initially sentenced to 30 months probation and completion of the Work Ethic Camp program, but was removed from the WEC four days following his sentencing.

Hamlin's failure to comply with and subsequent removal from the WEC program came despite warnings from Red Willow County District Court Judge David Urbom, that if he failed to follow the guidelines set forth, the next visit between the two would be to discuss the length of Hamlin's prison sentence.

Urbom held true to his warning and sentenced Hamlin to 3-5 years in prison in January 2011.

While Hamlin does not have a violent criminal record locally, he does have a history of not being afraid to speak his mind.

"You told the probation officer that JC Penney's was overpriced anyways," said Urbom to Hamlin during Hamlin's first sentencing for the JC Penney's burglary. Urbom said then it was an example of his lack of remorse.

Urbom then went on to point out Hamlin's refusal to complete a 10 page probation packet, to which Hamlin responded by saying it was a big packet. Urbom then explained to Hamlin that it was difficult to believe his claims of wanting to attend school when he was unwilling to complete a 10 page packet.

"You're acting like a punk," said Urbom, "breaking into businesses with no remorse for that." Urbom told Hamlin he needed to work on his attitude and follow the guidelines of his probation and the Work Ethic Camp, otherwise their next visit would be to discuss the length of his prison sentence.

According to court documents Hamlin was spotted fleeing the department store by officers responding to an intruder alarm and arrested a short distance away. Hamlin told arresting officers that he, "Always runs when he sees cops because he knows how cops are and they beat you up for no reason and steal and smoke your weed."