A Vancouver man accused of threatening to kill a state Senate candidate was set to enter a not-guilty plea Friday, but his attorney said he needed more time before moving the case forward.
Gary K. Owen, 50, will be arraigned Aug. 23 in Clark County Superior Court on charges of malicious harassment and cyberstalking. He’s accused of sending two threatening, graphic emails to Eileen Qutub, a Republican candidate in the 49th District, because he was upset at receiving her campaign mailers.
Portland lawyer Alexander Hamalian said Owen had retained him just the previous night and he needed time to review police reports to learn the extent of the investigation and the allegations before allowing his client to enter a plea and move forward to trial-setting.
“I know very little about the case,” Hamalian said.
Meanwhile, Owen has posted bond to $25,000 bail and was released from jail Tuesday.
Owen allegedly sent the first email to Qutub on July 21, sheriff’s deputies said.
“I do not know how you got my name and address but I would rather put a bullet in your stupid pathetic Republican (expletive) brain than vote for you,” it read. “Being a Republican and a woman you have no right ever speaking or having an opinion about anything.”
