Man gets probation for threatening prosecutor

QUINCY -- A Missouri man convicted of threatening an Adams County prosecutor won't go to prison because he's in poor health.

Judge Bob Hardwick sentenced 42-year-old Ronald Beswick on Wednesday to 30 months probation instead of a prison term, noting Beswick is a candidate for a kidney transplant and probably would die behind bars.

But Hardwick scolded the man from Hannibal, Mo., for being "a loose cannon" and ordered him to apologize in writing to Jennifer Cifaldi, an assistant state's attorney.

Witnesses testified Beswick made comments about Cifaldi including references to "putting a bullet in her head." Beswick denies using the word "bullet."

A jury deliberated just 45 minutes Wednesday before convicting Beswick.