Rep. Carolyn Maloney. (Brigitte Stelzer)
Prosecutors are weighing felony charges against the unhinged upstate gun fanatic accused in a series of anonymous death threat calls to Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” assistant district attorney Erin Satterthwaite told a judge in asking successfully for bail to remain at $20,000 for Ronald Buchanan, 40.
“We do have grounds for felony charges,” Sattherthwaite said.
Buchanan, who has been unable to post bail, stood glumly in cuffs before Manhattan Criminal Court Justice Steven Statsinger as he learned the bad news before being carted back to jail.
His lawyer had argued that Buchanan’s bail should be lowered because numerous people, including his pastor, had written letters of support for the father of four from Elmira, NY.
“There were no steps taken by Mr. Buchanan,” to follow through on the threats, said defense lawyer Hara Robrish. Buchanan has worked for a year for an excavating company, and hasn’t visited New York City in years, she said.
Buchanan is so far charged with misdemeanor harassment and menacing after five threatening calls were traced to his phone and address, investigators said when he was busted April 17.
All of the calls were made on April 2 to Maloney’s Queens office, but forwarded automatically to the Manhattan office, where they were answered by two young interns and an assistant.
“I want that b— dead,” Buchanan said in one of the calls, according to the criminal complaint against him. “I will f—ing kill that bitch if I see her,” he allegedly said. The caller said he was responding to Maloney’s plans to sponsor legislation requiring liability insurance for gun owners.
Maloney has said that despite receiving the anonymous death threats, she would continue pursuing the legislation.