Man claiming to be Senate candidate arrested

A self-described candidate for Harry Reid's U.S. Senate seat in Nevada may be ending his campaign, but not on his own accord.

Jerry Dean "J.D." Carter, 69, faces arraignment today in Battle Mountain on charges of disturbing the peace, trespassing and resisting a public officer. He is being held on $1,951 bail.

Lander County Undersheriff Robert Quick said Thursday that Carter was arrested at the senior center for being "an unwanted person."

A woman at the center, who declined to be identified, said Carter was trying to campaign and when he was asked leave, became belligerent.

The Nevada Secretary of State's office said Carter was never a candidate for U.S. Senate. He has not filed the required forms, and may not be a resident of Nevada.

Pam DuPre, public information officer for the Secretary of State, said a memorandum was sent this week to all county clerks advising them that Carter cannot run for U.S. Senate.

DuPre would not confirm or deny that Carter threatened personnel at their office, although Carter told the Nevada Appeal that he had been removed from the state office.

Quick said Carter listed his residence as a post office box in California. A Web site lists his home residence as Smith River, near the Oregon border.

The Nevada Threat Analysis Center in Carson City has been compiling Carter's activities in Northern Nevada and issuing statewide alerts.

In late January, the NTAC received information from the Fallon Police Department that Carter had been verbally aggressive and disruptive at the Churchill County Clerk's office.

Although Carter never threatened staff, the encounter left Churchill clerk/treasurer Kelly Helton shaken.

"It's been scary after what happened in Las Vegas," she said. "We're not taking it lightly."

In early January, a gunman opened fire at the federal courthouse in Las Vegas, injuring a U.S. marshal and killing a security officer.

Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory said that in a phone call, Carter told him he had many weapons.

"When he started (talking) about guns, I asked, 'Are you threatening?' Then he hung up," Mallory said.

Carter has been asked to leave at least three newspaper offices after becoming aggressive and abusive, including the Nevada Appeal in Carson City and Lahontan Valley News in Fallon.

Assistant Editor Jen Anderson of the Humboldt Sun in Winnemucca said Carter visited their office a week ago and cornered the general manager.

"He became louder and louder and more belligerent," Anderson said.

NTAC also said Carter was a candidate for U.S. Senate seats in 2008 in Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming, according to various Web sites.