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Judge Frees Man Institutionalized For Threatening President

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

TAMPA - A man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for threatening to kill the president and several federal judges and FBI agents was ordered released from custody today after a federal judge found he no longer poses a danger.

Richard Allen Hoagland, 35, was acquitted in January 2006 of the charges, which included a bank robbery in which authorities said he took $1,659 from Mercantile Bank, at 4202 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, on Nov. 30, 2005. Hoagland left the bank, walked a few blocks, then tried to bribe pest control company employees to give him a ride, authorities said.

Hoagland is schizophrenic, according to records. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore accepted the finding of government doctors that his illness has responded to treatment and no longer poses a danger to the community so long as he complies with conditions Whittemore imposed.

Hoagland must get psychological and substance abuse treatment, comply with the treatment plans, abstain from alcohol and live with his mother in Tampa.

During Hoagland's non-jury trial before Whittemore, the defense stipulated Hoagland was guilty and the prosecution stipulated he was insane. He was committed to the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn., where he remained until about a month ago, Whittemore said.

According to a psychologist's report before his trial, Hoagland thought government officials were conspiring against him. "It's always the same thing," he told the psychologist, Michael P. Gamache, according to the report. "It's either the CIA or the FBI. … They say I used to be in the KGB. ... It's all a big conspiracy, and they are trying to hide me away like the Bird Man of Alcatraz."

Hoagland sent e-mails in 2004 to the FBI threatening to kill Tampa Special Agent in Charge Carl Whitehead and two FBI agents, records state. He also threatened — in a series of e-mails to the FBI and telephone calls to the FBI and 911 — to kill President Bush and U.S. District Court Judges Susan Bucklew, Steven Merryday, Richard Lazzara and Magistrate Mark Pizzo, authorities said.

The FBI said that in an e-mail sent to the agency on Nov. 23, Hoagland wrote, "Damn the FBI, CIA, ATF U.S, Marshal, DEA and the pres. Bush. I might just get a 308 and blow his head off. He is a killer and he deserves to die. Praise Allah."

Hoagland is not known to be Muslim.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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