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Man accused of sending threatening emails holds off arraignment
[August 17, 2012]

Man accused of sending threatening emails holds off arraignment


Aug 17, 2012 (The Columbian - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Vancouver man accused of threatening to kill a state Senate candidate was set to enter a not-guilty plea Friday, but his attorney said he needed more time to review police reports before moving the case forward.



Gary K. Owen, 50, will be arraigned Aug. 23 in Clark County Superior Court on charges of malicious harassment and cyberstalking. He's accused of sending two threatening, graphic emails to Eileen Qutub, a Republican candidate for the 49th District, because he was upset at receiving her campaign mailers.

Portland attorney Alexander Hamalian said he had just been retained by Owen the previous night and needed more time to learn the extent of the investigation and the allegations before allowing his client to enter a not-guilty plea and move forward to trial-setting.


"I know very little about the case," Hamalian said.

Meanwhile, Owen has posted bond to $25,000 bail and was released from jail on Tuesday.

Owen allegedly sent the first email to Qutub on July 21, sheriff's deputies said.

"I do not know how you got my name and address but I would rather put a bullet in your stupid pathetic Republican (expletive) brain than vote for you," the email read. "Being a Republican and a woman you have no right ever speaking or having an opinion about anything." On Aug. 4, Qutub received a second email: "I will hunt you down and shove your spam junk mail flier (explicit description) with a hot poker!" the email read.

Qutub alerted the Clark County Sheriff's Office last week. Since the author had left Owen's name and address at the bottom of the second email, sheriff's deputies were able to locate and question him.

According to a sheriff's office news release, Owen admitted to sending the emails.

He has no criminal history.

Qutub is running against Democrat Annette Cleveland for the seat vacated by Craig Pridemore. The seat represents west Vancouver in the Senate.

Laura McVicker: www.twitter.com/col_courts; www.facebook.com/reportermcvicker; [email protected]; 360-735-4516.

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___ (c)2012 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) Visit The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) at www.columbian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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