Death Threat Against Gay CT Legislators Results In Arrest

Connecticut police have arrested a man for emailing death threats to two gay state legislators who had proposed laws giving Catholic parishioners more control over church finances.

The State Capitol Police Department charged a New Britain man with harassment after he allegedly sent a threatening email to two state legislators. Timothy Kane, 26, of New Britain was charged with Harassment 2nd Degree in connection with an incident that occurred on March 10, 2009. State Capitol Police Department said they were notified March 11, that an email containing an alarming statement had been received by State Senator Andrew McDonald and State Representative Michael Lawlor. Police said the email was sent the prior evening at 9:12 p.m. An investigation determined Kane sent the email which "made reference to the residences of the two legislators insinuating retaliation for their position on Senate Bill 1098 pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church, along with other derogatory statements." Kane was arrested Wednesday without incident. Kane was released on a $500 cash bond andwill be arraigned in Hartford Superior Court on March 27th.

The bill was withdrawn after thousands of church members protested at the state capital. Police says the two gay legislators received more than 10,000 harassing and threatening emails.