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Man Threatens To Kill Park Ranger Who Gave Him Parking Ticket

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Towsley Canyon (Photo by Rick O! via the LAist Featured Photos pool)

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A man pleaded guilty in court yesterday to threatening to take the life of park ranger who gave him a parking ticket.

Derrick J. Alfoldy, 41, received a parking ticket at Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon in Santa Clarita on October 13, 2011. Not long after he got the ticket, the park ranger received a voicemail that said, "You tell Ranger [redacted] that he is going to die soon."

The park ranger had only given out two citations in the last month, so it wasn't hard to try to figure out who made the call. The Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority obtained a search warrant to search Alfoldy's call records, linking him to the call. He pleaded guilty yesterday to making the threat, according to a release from the agency.

Alfoldy was sentenced to 20 days of community labor and 36 months probation. He must give up all his firearms—he owns several—and take 26 anger management sessions at his own expense. He was also ordered to stay 100 yards from the ranger involved and from Towsley Canyon Park.

Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez said Alfody's record will hurt his career aspirations:

"The MRCA takes threats seriously and will prosecute to full extent of the law. This conviction is particularly satisfying as in the past Mr Alfoldy has applied for various state licenses, such as running an elder care facility, and has been in background with several police agencies. This should put an end to his goal of being in a position of authority over others."

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