Man accused of threatening informant pleads not guilty

A federal grand jury has indicted a man on charges of threatening a confidential informant in an ancient Indian artifacts investigation that resulted in the arrest and indictment of 24 individuals.

Charles Denton Armstrong, 44, appeared in U.S. District Court on Thursday to face one count of retaliating against an informant after a grand jury handed down the indictment Wednesday evening. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison plus a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors allege Armstrong discovered the identity of a confidential informant and threatened to tie him to a tree and beat him with a baseball bat. They also believe that Armstrong was given the name of the informant by admitted artifact looter Jeanne Redd, the wife of Dr. James Redd, a well-known Blanding physician who committed suicide shortly after being indicted on charges related to the illegal trade of Indian artifacts.

Armstrong has also said he was given the informant's identity by an employee of James Redd.

Since the arrests, many in the community of Blanding have expressed outrage over what they see as overly aggressive tactics used by federal agents. The head of the local FBI office and the U.S. attorney for Utah have defended the agents' action as professional and part of well-established procedures.

Armstrong, who was being treated by James Redd for a degenerative spinal disorder, told a witness that he knew who the confidential source was who helped in the investigation and that he was going to "take care of him" because he blamed the source for Redd's suicide.

Prosecutors say Armstrong has a violent history, has served time in prison and identified himself as a member of a white supremacist gang. He has been held in federal custody since his arrest.

In court Thursday, Armstrong said he understood his constitutional rights and pleaded not guilty to the charge. A trial date has been set for Sept. 28. U.S. Magistrate Paul Warner has given the defense and prosecution until Sept. 8 to reach any form of plea agreement.

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