THOUSAND OAKS : Judge Finds Man Competent for Trial
A Ventura County Superior Court judge has found a Thousand Oaks man competent to stand trial on charges that he sent threatening letters to public officials.
Judge Lawrence Storch ruled Thursday that Norman (Blackie) Jackson, 35, who pleaded not guilty to five counts of threatening public officials, is competent to help his attorney defend him at a trial scheduled Dec. 17.
Jackson allegedly wrote letters to politicians including county Supervisor Madge L. Schaefer, state Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and Thousand Oaks City Manager Grant R. Brimhall. The letters said, “The bullets will fly soon,” and were signed “Christ,” prosecutors said.
Jackson campaigned under the name Christ in the 1989 Thousand Oaks City Council election, but has denied in a letter to The Times that he claimed to be Jesus Christ.
Jackson, who was arrested in July, remains in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
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