Guilty Plea Entered in Threats to Carson
A Milwaukee man pleaded guilty Monday to threatening “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson and was placed on five years’ probation. Ken Orville Gause, 37, also was ordered by Pasadena Superior Court Judge Charles Lee to be escorted to his home in Milwaukee, where he has agreed to enter a treatment program.
Gause pleaded guilty to all charges against him--five counts of sending threatening extortion letters to the comedian and five counts of making terrorist threats against him. Gause was arrested Nov. 28, 1989, at the NBC studios in Burbank after he demanded to speak to Carson. Police said he was carrying two homemade billy clubs. Police said Gause had sent a number of letters and tape recordings threatening to kill Carson.
Last year, Lee ruled that Gause was mentally incompetent to stand trial and suspended criminal proceedings until Gause received medical and psychological treatment at a state hospital.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
