Nevada Man Charged for Death Threats Against Trump Prosecutor and Judge

A Nevada man, Spencer Gear, has been charged with making death threats against the prosecutor and the judge involved in Donald Trump's criminal conviction. Gear pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being detained. The case has led to calls for violence inspired by Trump's rhetoric, amid his ongoing legal battles.

A Nevada man has been charged with making a death threat against the prosecutor who secured Donald Trump's criminal conviction and the judge who oversaw the former U.S. president's trial, according to court records and a person familiar with the case.

Spencer Gear was charged in Nevada federal court on July 16 with 22 counts of making threats to kill or injure officials, including making a call to New York threatening to kill two individuals referred to as "A.B." and "J.M." The indictment did not name the targets, but a person familiar with the case said the initials referred to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump's trial.

Gear pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained at a Las Vegas court hearing on Tuesday, records show. Gear's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president in the Nov. 5 election, was convicted on May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying business records tied to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. Trump has vowed to appeal the verdict following his Sept. 18 sentencing.

Trump's attacks on judges and prosecutors in his various legal battles have prompted calls for violence, as detailed in a May 14 Reuters special report. Notably, a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding him in the ear. The shooter's motive remains unclear.