LOS ANGELES
A federal judge sentenced a man who threatened to kill a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement officer who came to the man’s home to ask about trash dumped in the San Bernardino National Forest to 18 months in jail, according to officials.
Richard Latka, 57, of Hemet, was convicted Thursday in federal court of threatening a federal agent, officials said.
“This federal law enforcement officer faced serious threats of assault and murder. The officer did everything he could to de-escalate the situation,” said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Instead of de-escalating, Mr. Latka made repeated threats to harm the officer, who was acting both lawfully and prudently. As a result of his dangerous conduct, his unwillingness to comply with law enforcement, and his failure to accept responsibility for his crime, Mr. Latka has earned this prison term.”
According to officials, this is the evidence against Latka:
- The Forest Service Officer went to a residence in Hemet in October 2014 to investigate trash that had recently been dumped in the nearby national forest.
- The officer encountered Latka in the front yard of the residence, and Latka reacted angrily when the officer said he wished to speak to “Mr. Morales” without telling Latka why. Latka then ran toward the officer with clenched fists.
- Believing that Latka intended to hit him, the officer drew his Taser gun. Latka stopped running but continued screaming at the officer.
- The officer tried to remove himself from the situation by getting into his car, but Latka continued to scream at the officer and pounded on the window of the marked law enforcement vehicle with his fist.
- The officer drove away, but Latka followed in his own car, yelling “next time you’re dead.”
- Witnesses reported that Latka later said that he would “get” the officer and that he was going to kill him.