Arrest made after death threats against retired U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson

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Arrest made after death threats against retired U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson

2011-01-29 15:35:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

LOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) -- A 42-year old South Los Angeles man was arrested by Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau detectives on Friday morning after a series of recent phone calls threatening to kill retired U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson, police said on Saturday.

Sheron Nelson, a 42-year old African-American man was arrested in South Los Angeles at the office of his state parole agent. His residence was then searched, revealing numerous stolen electronic items at the property.

"We recovered the phone used to make the calls to Congresswoman Watson. It belonged to the suspect. Also, during questioning, he implicated himself," said Lieutenant Kent Wegener of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Nelson was later booked at the Century Regional Detention Facility for making felony terrorist threats against retired Congresswoman Watson, as well as for felony identity theft. Because he is on parole for an unrelated terrorist threats conviction, Nelson is not eligible for bail.

The motive of the suspect's threats and other aspects of the case are still under investigation by the Major Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the department said.

The arrest came only three weeks after U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was critically injured in an attempted assassination in Tucson, Arizona. She survived and is recovering, but six other people were killed.

On January 12, 32-year-old Charles Turner Habermann of Palm Springs, California was arrested after being charged with making death threats against Washington Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, prosecutors said.

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