Bay Area Man Held In Threat Against State Official
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A threat to a California state senator has led to the arrest of a Santa Clara man and the confiscation of explosive materials and a loaded handgun, authorities said.
Everett Basham, 45, was being held without bail Wednesday in Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of threatening a public official and possessing a concealed firearm. It was not clear if he had retained an attorney.
Investigators found a loaded handgun in Basham's vehicle and explosive materials at his home, said Officer Sean Kennedy, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol's Protective Services Division.
The Santa Clara County sheriff's bomb squad blew up the materials, which were deemed unstable, after Basham's arrest on Tuesday.
Kennedy would not release the identity of the lawmaker, citing security and privacy concerns. He also declined to detail the threat.
"All legislators get hate mail all the time, but we don't write search warrants," Kennedy said.
Basham "made some sort of threat that was serious or viable enough that the officers decided to go further," Kennedy said.
The threat was against a state senator, said Senate Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Tony Beard, who declined to release a name or give other details because of the ongoing investigation.
Spokesmen for Santa Clara-area Sens. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, and Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, said they were not the targets.
A spokesman for Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, declined comment until the senator was briefed by the CHP. Yee has been the subject of frequent death threats.
Basham was arrested without incident at a relative's home. Kennedy said he was cooperative.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.)
