Man accused of terrorism after threatening Cache County School Board over tax increases

by Derick Fox, KUTV

LOGAN, Utah (KUTV) — A Cache County man was taken into custody after he reportedly threatened to kill members of the Cache County School Board during a public hearing about potential tax increases.

Multiple witnesses reported hearing Christopher Paul Nielsen, 58, make threats toward school board officials during the meeting, including, "If this goes through, I am gonna kill everyone of them."

Nielsen allegedly told two of the witnesses he was glad they heard his comments when they looked his direction. One witness told investigators Nielsen seemed serious about the threats and reported their concerns.

Investigators determined Nielsen had used the threat of violence to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to influence or affect the conduct of a government or unit of government."

Nielsen, 58, was booked into the Cache County Jail, where he faces charges of second-degree felony terrorism for the intent to intimidate or influence government and misdemeanor threat to influence an official or political action.

According to court documents, Nielsen has made similar threats in the past, including threatening to shoot Cache County officials over unpaid taxes. Investigators said his threats always include firearms, which the Cache County Sheriff's Office was aware that he owned.