Soboroff to face probation hearing

Danica Baker

Jul. 9, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- CLINTON -- A hearing will be held July 17 to determine if Jeffrey A. Soboroff, 57, of Calamus, has violated his probation after being convicted of making threats.

Soboroff was arrested in November by Clinton County Sheriff's deputies after he had made a posting to his Web site that he had procured 500 pounds of thorizine and was going to dump the drug into the city water tower to "calm the population down." His trial took place March 10 and 11 in Clinton County District Court. The jury returned with a guilty verdict on March 11.

During the sentencing hearing on April 3, Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf advised the court the state recommended Soboroff be sentenced to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, which encompasses a 46-bed accredited psychiatric hospital providing inpatient psychiatric and evaluation services to criminal offenders, in Oakdale for a term of five years and obtain an evaluation. Wolf remarked that after some time at the Oakdale facility, the court could hold a reconsideration hearing to reassess the sentence.

Soboroff's court-appointed attorney, Bill Vilmont, said it would be cruel and unusual punishment to put Soboroff in jail and said a better punishment would be to offer Soboroff education, training, schooling or monitoring to help Soboroff develop discipline and get control of himself.

Judge Hobart Darbyshire sentenced Soboroff to a term not to exceed five years in prison, but suspended the sentence and placed Soboroff on probation with the Seventh Judicial District Department of Corrections. Soboroff was fined $500 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $226.34 to the city of Calamus for the loss of water resulting from draining the city reservoir and water tower.

The fine also was suspended.

Before issuing the sentence, Darbyshire warned Soboroff that if he did not comply with his probation officer or violated his probation in any way, he would end up in prison quickly after a very short probation revocation hearing. On the record, Vilmont told Soboroff that if he was to "mess up one iota, that's it."

According to a Report of Violation filed June 24 by Parole/Probation Officer Lisa Chapman, Soboroff violated his probation by failing to "obey all laws." She states that Soboroff contacts the probation office on almost a daily basis. The court document includes a transcription of a voicemail left for Chapman by Soboroff at 2:46 p.m. on June 12. In the transcription, Soboroff contends that a child believing Soboroff to be their father was "starred by a girl in Rock Island High School and it was a race issue." Soboroff advises Chapman that he will be getting involved in the situation. In the voicemail transcription laced with profanity, Soboroff tells Chapman to not threaten him, saying it is none of Chapman's business "what goes on in another jurisdiction."

"So I am going to be dealing with the Rock Island pigs and with the Rock Island school system. I am going to be calling 'em. I'm going to be pestering 'em even and I don't expect your office to get into it... I am going to take this to the (expletive) limit. So don't you (expletive) threaten me," Soboroff reportedly stated. "You will stay out of what happens between me and the Rock Island Police Department. You will stay out of what happens between me and Rock Island High School. You will (expletive) stay out of it."

The violation report also details a posting to Soboroff's Web site on June 17 referencing alleged misconduct by the Social Security Administration, saying that the agency is funneling funding assistance past Soboroff's former girlfriend, Wanda Butler. Soboroff alleges the agency is sending the funds to family members who he claims are using the money to "fund the crack business."

"Some people need to be eliminated... The critters that run the Davenport SSA office need to be eliminated also," Soboroff posted. "And let me assure the pigs that say these pieces of (expletive) need to be protected that what they do not only consigns Wanda to more abuse and poverty but flies in the face of that the SSA is suposed to be doing for her."

He adds that he will be posting their pictures on his website, stating he had other people take pictures of the "office pigs."

Chapman states in the report that she received a call from Special Agent Thomas Bowe of the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration in Des Moines on June 24, in which Bowe related the alleged harassment of SSA employees.

"Based on telephone conversations from the defendant and the above website posting by Jeffrey Soboroff, Social Security employees feel threatened by Jeffrey Soboroff and are concerned for their safety and the safety of their families," Chapman wrote in the violation report.

Soboroff recently was accused of repeatedly calling Clinton County offices, including the county attorney, auditor, board of supervisors, communications and sheriff's department, causing "workplace disruption and loss of productivity." On June 12, a Clinton County District Court judge issued an injunction against Soboroff, restraining him from harassing county offices.

Soboroff still faces charges including three counts of harassment in the third degree and one count of extortion following incidents occurring while he was on trial for the threats charge on March 10. Soboroff has pleaded not guilty. His trial on those charges is scheduled to begin July 28 at 9 a.m.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0394-26549749