A former Sheffield man serving a lengthy term in state prison for robbery and burglary is one of two men facing a host of charges after allegedly mailing threats to people involved in his case.
Jeremy Celton Hoden, 22, of State Correctional Institution - Forest, and Eddie Ray Gray, 21, also of SCI - Forest, are accused of threatening Warren County District Attorney Ross McKeirnan, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Feronti, President Judge Maureen Skerda, Senior Judge William Morgan, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jeffrey Walters, an 82-year-old Sheffield woman and a 62-year-old Warren man with harm and/or death, according to a press release on Wednesday.
Gray is serving a sentence of five to 10 years in prison for robbery handled in Allegheny County court.
Hoden is serving 12 to 24 years after he pleaded guilty to robbery charges stemming from an Aug. 10, 2007, incident in which he attacked a woman in her home, and stole her cash and car keys.
After the attack, Hoden was arrested in Florida and sentenced to three years for fleeing and eluding with disregard for safety of others, assault on an officer, and trespassing.
Upon completion of his Florida sentence, Hoden was returned to Pennsylvania to begin serving his sentence at SCI - Forest.
Police said between Jan. 14 and Feb. 9, while they were incarcerated, Hoden and Gray sent letters to the seven victims. Some victims received more than one letter.
Hoden is charged with nine counts of retaliation against prosecutor or judicial official, nine counts of retaliation against witness or victim, nine counts of terroristic threats, and one count of conspiracy - retaliation against prosecutor or judicial official.
Gray is charged with eight counts of retaliation against prosecutor or judicial official, eight counts of retaliation against witness or victim, eight counts of terroristic threats, and one count of conspiracy - retaliation against prosecutor or judicial official.
The threats charges are misdemeanors, the other charges are felonies.
Because the district attorneys are among the victims, the case will probably be prosecuted by agents of the state Attorney General's office, according to police.