Father and son plead not guilty in Palin harassment case

Craig Christy and 19-year-old Shawn Christy entered their pleas before a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Anchorage.

The Christys, of McAdoo, Pa., face felony charges of placing harassing interstate telephone calls to the former Alaska governor's attorneys and employees of the law firm's offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Palin, a potential Republican presidential candidate and the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, has been granted state restraining orders against the men.

The Christys have been accused of making hundreds of phone calls to the offices of Palin's attorney, John Tiemessen. Some of the calls involved threats against Palin and others, according to an indictment by a federal grand jury in Alaska.

Neither Tiemessen nor Palin attended the hearing.

"The tone of the messages was putting the staff on edge because they have been threatened by the Christys," the indictment says. "They repeatedly say they are coming to Alaska. Tiemessen's family also has been threatened and harassed telephonically."

The indictment did not elaborate on the nature of threats against Palin. The document says the calls included obscenity-laden phone messages, including a death threat to Tiemessen from Craig Christy. In another message, Shawn Christy said he was going to Alaska and would rape one of the attorneys, according to the indictment.

The Christys were arrested last month following the indictment. They have since been held without bail.

Magistrate Deborah M. Smith set a jury trial for Nov. 21 and a detention hearing for Monday to discuss bail issues for both men.

Both men also were granted court-appointed attorneys.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Retta-Rae Randall said the charge of "harassing telephone calls" carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, Craig and Shawn Christy have been upset about restraining orders against them. The six-month orders were issued in May by a state magistrate in Alaska on behalf of Palin, her family and friends.

The restraining order against Shawn Christy -- accused of stalking Palin -- was extended for six months. The restraining order issued against Craig Christy followed accusations he was barraging Palin's parents with antagonizing telephone messages.