Convict pleads guilty to threatening president

A Berks County man, already serving jail time on an attempted-rape conviction, pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of threatening the president. Stephen Christopher Pyle admitted that he sent a five-page letter to former President George W. Bush in September 2007 from the Berks County Prison in Leesport.

In the rambling letter, Pyle wrote: "Die kill you I am going to bom your White house and shot you whit AK47s . . . your so going to be killed by me when I get out of this county jail."

In October 2007, a mental-health worker asked Pyle if he was serious. According to court papers, Pyle replied, "Hell, yes."

Pyle faces up to 15 more years behind bars when he is sentenced Jan. 12 in U.S. District Court in Allentown. - Sam Wood