(JTA) — A Boulder man who sent threatening letters containing a suspicious white powder to two Jewish organizations in the Colorado city was sentenced to a year of prison work release.
Jeffery Thomas Klinkel, 34, will work during the day and spend the night in jail. At the sentencing Friday in Boulder District Court, the judge also placed Klinkel on four years of probation, the Daily Camera reported. He had faced up to five years in prison.
In March, Klinkel pleaded guilty to one count each of felony menacing and using a hoax chemical or biological weapon.
His fingerprints were found on letters with the powder, later determined to be cornstarch, received by the Boulder Jewish Community Center and Congregation Har HaShem on April 6, 2015.
“This Goyim is enjoying the blood of her enemies for Passover,” the letters read.
At the time, employees who came in contact with the letters were put under quarantine.
Klinkel’s attorney, Steven Louth, said Klinkel had become heavily involved in online conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks, including the belief that the Israeli government was responsible. He also said Klinkel is mentally ill, according to the Daily Camera.
Klinkel told the court that he wasn’t an anti-Semite but was sucked into the online conspiracy theory community and also blamed his actions on the sedative Ambien.
His record includes arrests for assault, harassment, burglary, trespassing and fraud.
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