Sex Offender Charged With Threatening Gov. Rauner, DuPage Co. Sheriff

A 25-year-old Carol Stream man, who is also a registered sex offender, faces felony charges after he sent threatening e-mails to Gov. Bruce Rauner and DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba, DuPage County authorities said late Thursday.

The e-mails sent by Eric Pence allegedly threatened violence against the local sheriff and the state’s governor and also were harassing in nature, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bob Harris said in a the news release.

Pence was arrested at 11 a.m. on Thursday without incident. Pence, who remains in custody on a $250,000 bail, is charged with one felony count of Threatening a Public Official and one count of Harassment through Electronic Communications, Harris said.

Pence, who was registered as a sex offender following a conviction on a charge of traveling to meet a minor, was also later charged and convicted of electronic harassment-obscene for contacting the victim in that case.

Zaruba received numerous emails from Pence, authorities said.

“Harassment and threats against elected officials are a serious matter and we cannot stand by and allow this type of criminal conduct to occur,” Zaruba said Thursday.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said it is critical that elected officials are able to perform their duties “free from retribution and harassment of any kind.”

“Because of the harm such action can cause to our society, my office takes any threat against an elected official, perceived or actual, extremely serious and anyone accused of such action will face the full force of the law,” Berlin said.

Threatening a Public Official is a Class 3 Felony. Pence is next expected in court on January 23, 2017.

Photo via the DuPage County Sheriff's Office