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Man who threatened apostle running for Congress

By Daily Herald - | Mar 16, 2002

The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — A man who threatened an LDS Church official with a fake bomb nine years ago and spent time in a psychiatric hospital declared his candidacy on Friday for the 1st Congressional District.

Cody Judy filed as a Democrat for the 1st District seat Jim Hansen is vacating.

He is the second Democrat to file for the spot. Seven Republicans also have filed. The filing deadline is Monday.

On Feb. 7, 1993, Judy stormed a meeting of 17,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Brigham Young University’s Marriott Center in Provo.

He interrupted a sermon by the late Howard W. Hunter, then-president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Judy said he had a bomb in his briefcase and demanded that Hunter read a three-page letter proclaiming Judy the church’s prophet.

Hunter refused, and the crowd began singing a hymn. Distracted and confused, Judy was wrestled to the ground by BYU students, who beat him into submission. The “bomb” turned out to be books and a radio.

Because of his talk of prophesies, Judy was given a 45-day mental evaluation at the state hospital. He escaped from the hospital for three days and then surrendered at a Salt Lake City television station.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Judy was paroled in 1999, but his parole was revoked after he failed to complete a halfway-house program for mentally ill offenders.

When he was again paroled in November 2000, Judy promised he would never force his religious views on others again.

Utah law prohibits felons from running for state and local office, but the restriction doesn’t apply to candidates for federal office, elections officials said.

Utah law also says convicted felons’ right to vote is restored upon being paroled.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.

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