Jeffrey Klinkel
A year after packages containing white powder were mailed to two Jewish institutions in Boulder, the man charged with the crime pleaded guilty to charges of felony menacing and explosive hoax, or using a false chemical or biological weapon.
Jeffrey Thomas Klinkel, 34, made the guilty plea late last month, the Boulder Daily Camera reported this week, and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on June 1.
On April 6, 2015, the Boulder Jewish Community Center and Congregation Har Hashem received envelopes containing notes and white powder later determined to be a harmless substance forcing the evacuation of both institutions and causing employees who came in contact with the material to be temporarily quarantined.
Just over a month later, after extensive investigations by Boulder Sheriffs Dept. and FBI officials, Klinkel who has an extensive criminal record including assault, harassment, burglary, trespassing and fraud was arrested and charged.
Boulder County Detective Chris Fiegel told the Intermountain Jewish News shortly after Klinkels arrest that forensic evidence led to his arrest. That evidence apparently included fingerprints, according to information released this week.
Fiegel also told the IJN that Fiegel was not charged under Colorados hate crimes statute because the notes he wrote, although vaguely seeming to be anti-Semitic, were largely incoherent and did not contain specific threats against the Jewish institutions he targeted by mail.
In a statement released this week, Boulder JCC executive director Jonathan Lev did not mention Klinkel by name but said that his acts were reprehensible and antithetical to what we teach our children and the values we hold sacred as a community.
”We applaud the efforts of local law enforcement that conducted the investigation and apprehended the suspect.
”We are grateful to the team lead by District Attorney Stan Garnett and Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley who put in countless hours in preparing this case and achieving this outcome.
”During the entire process they have been transparent, communicative, and supportive of both of our institutions.”
Lev also thanked the many individuals and institutions that expressed support for the Boulder JCC and Har Hashem at the time of the mailings and evacuations.
Chris Leppek may be reached at [email protected].
Copyright © 2016 by the Intermountain Jewish News
