37 months for brother of man who 'exploded' at OU game

Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 5, 2007 at midnight

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A Colorado Springs man whose brother blew himself up outside an Oklahoma football game in 2005 was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today for threatening an FBI agent.

U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn called Thomas C. Hinrichs, who had an AK-47 assault rifle and other paramilitary gear in his car when he was arrested, "a time bomb for our community."

He also said Hinrichs should have a full mental evaluation and treatment while in prison and be under supervised release for three years after he gets out.

Hinrichs, 28, spoke for nearly 30 minutes during the hearing, repeatedly saying he had been the victim throughout his life of extreme violence, and that the FBI agents — whom he referred to as "dogs" — had committed treason by not doing anything to stop the "terrorism" committed against him.

The sometimes rambling statement also touched on Hinrichs' time in the Army, his childhood abuse, the Revolutionary War, the war crimes trials at Nuremberg and discussions he had with Ted Haggard, the disgraced former minister at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

"I've been a basket case my whole life," he said. "I am not normal."

A jury convicted Hinrichs in June of threatening a federal agent in November 2006.

According to the FBI, authorities opened a domestic terrorism investigation into Hinrichs the day after his brother, Joel Hinrichs, committed suicide by detonating an explosive device attached to his neck.

The investigation was closed in April 2006, but an FBI agent was assigned to monitor Hinrichs monthly to ensure he wasn't a threat to himself or others.

The investigation was soon reopened, after Hinrichs made phone calls to the FBI saying he was angry with the government and the school system over his brother's death, and that he would "out those and build the gallows himself" if he didn't get a public apology. In another call, he told an agent "I will bury you."

In November 2006, Hinrichs' father called police to report his son had assaulted him. When he was arrested, he was armed with a knife and had the assault rifle and other gear, including ammunition and a bulletproof vest, in his car.

During questioning that day, Hinrichs said he had the weapon because of one of the FBI agents, adding that the agent "should be held responsible."

Hinrichs' defense attorney, Edward Harris, told Blackburn Hinrichs didn't intend to threaten bodily harm when he made the statements.

"He's an angry, frustrated and confused person," Harris said.

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