New Bedford, Massachusetts woman held on threats charge against First Lady, Michelle Obama
A New Bedford woman, Kristy Roshia is being held without bail in Hawaii after making threats to commit a crime against first lady Michelle Obama. Roshia is held in federal custody. According to a news account, Roshia made numerous threats against Mrs. Obama by calling the Boston Secret Service Office and telling receptionists that she would kill the First Lady. The Secret Service was able to locate Roshia as she mailed the office that she was in Hawaii. News accounts state that Roshia has been previously arrested for threats.
Under Massachusetts criminal law, a threat to commit a crime requires the Commonwealth to prove an expression of the intent to inflict a crime on another and an ability to do so in circumstances that would justify apprehension on the part of the recipient of the threat. Many Massachusetts threats charges involve cases of relatively minor threats of teenagers stating they want to fight someone. In some cases, a threat will be made as a result of being in a heated argument or relationship. Often charges of threats to commit a crime can be resolved favorably at a pretrial proceeding and do not require the necessity of a trial.
