Man accused of threats in artifacts case to stay in jail

A man accused of threatening a confidential source in an archaeological artifacts investigation will remain in jail because he poses a danger, a U.S. District judge ruled Wednesday.

Charles Denton Armstrong, 44, is facing charges of retaliating against an agent for threatening to tie the informant to a tree and beat him with a baseball bat, according to federal court documents.

His intent was not to kill the person, but to "hurt him real bad," the documents state.

During Armstrong's detention hearing Wednesday, prosecutor Carlie Christensen said Armstrong had been given the name of the confidential informant by Jeanne Redd. She is the wife of Dr. James Redd, a popular Blanding doctor who killed himself after he and his wife were arrested along with 23 others in a wide-ranging investigation into possible black-market dealings in Indian artifacts.

Armstrong also said an employee of James Redd had given him the source's name.

A number of southern Utah residents have complained that law enforcement officials used overly aggressive tactics during the arrests, but prosecutors and other government agents said the situations were handled using proper procedures.

Armstrong was one of Redd's patients, and Redd provided painkillers and other medical treatment for Armstrong, who has a degenerative spinal disorder and was expecting to have surgery to get his back fused in the near future.

According to court documents, Armstrong told a witness in the case that he knew who the source was and was going to "take care of him" because he blamed the source for the doctor's suicide.

"We're aware that Dr. Redd was much respected and loved, but that is different than multiple threats Mr. Armstrong made against the confidential source," Christensen said. "It's not just tough talk."

Christensen said Armstrong also has a violent criminal history, served time in prison, has identified himself as a member of a white supremacist gang and indicated that with a single phone call, he could have a situation "taken care of." Armstrong also has a history of substance abuse.

Christensen said Armstrong is a threat to the informant, as well as the integrity of the investigation and future court proceedings.