William E. Wilson, 40, of Lowman, Idaho, was sentenced in Boise on March 1 to 40 hours of community service and 18 months on probation for threatening to assault a law enforcement officer, a class A misdemeanor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush also fined Wilson $150. Wilson pled guilty to the charge on December 20, 2010.

According to the plea agreement, in June 2010, Wilson was observed by a U.S. Forest Service officer illegally cutting and removing firewood within 300 feet of Highway 21, an act specifically prohibited by Forest Products Removal Permits. As the officer was writing Wilson a ticket, Wilson, cursed and berated the officer, and challenged his authority. When the officer locked himself in his Forest Service vehicle in order to be able to finish writing the ticket, Wilson threatened the officer, saying, “I know where you live. I can get you.” Wilson also threatened to use a valve stem remover to let the air out of the tires on the officer's vehicle. Wilson eventually calmed down, removed the firewood from his truck, and received the citation for his illegal conduct.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.