Indiana man gets probation for threatening Speaker Boehner

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indiana man who pleaded guilty to threatening to kill U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has been sentenced to four years of probation.

Thirty-three-year-old Brandon James Thompson of New Castle was sentenced Tuesday by a federal judge who placed him on six months of home detention.

U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Tim Horty says Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of threatening communications across state lines. He was arrested last May on allegations he used email and voice mail messages to threaten to kill the Ohio congressman over Congress' failure to extend unemployment insurance.

Thompson told the court he's "deeply sorry" for any consternation his calls caused the Boehner family.

Thompson's public defender, Monica Foster, says her client suffers from bipolar disorder, lingering effects of childhood trauma and financial troubles.