edonline
02-15-2004, 09:31 PM
http://www.netmusiccountdown.com/news/article.php?id=4789
George Strait Threatened
"Nobody wants to see me go Rambo!"
By Neil Haislop, Country Forever Productions
NASHVILLE, TN Sunday 2.15.2004 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- A Lousiana songwriter named Walter J. Bonin was indicted on 7 counts of extortion in Nashville Wednesday for allegedly threatening George Strait if he didn’t record Bonin’s music. Bonin’s threats ranged from explosives to exploding bullets and sniper fire according to the Tennessean.
Bonin had apparently become obsessed with getting his tunes to Strait and had been trying to reach George through his manager, Erv Woolsey, from 1995 to last year. He came to the attention of the authorities when his e-mail to Strait became threatening. The following example was released with the indictment:
''Please have a nice talk to Erv (sic) and George telling them again how hard I've worked at getting my songs recorded by my idol/friend George Strait. Your wife, Anita, knows I deserve my dream and destiny. If it comes down to it and I have no choice but to go Rambo, let me just say that I won't be the lone gunman.''
The message continues by describing the carnage he could bring to Strait's home in a matter of minutes, adding, ''Well, it doesn't have to end with war. One song will be fine.''
He also boasted what could happen to parts of Nashville's Music Row: ''Picture this, in less than five minutes the entire 18th Avenue South can be whiped (sic) off the map.''
In another message to O'Brien the next day, Bonin bragged about a refuge in a Louisiana swamp, court records say. He described claymore mines, explosive wires, plastic explosives, machine guns, snipers and a place he said not even the Navy SEALs could penetrate.
''Guess nobody wants to see me go Rambo, huh? Well, it's up to George and Erv now. Have a good day!''
Follow-up e-mails described in court documents contained a threat ''to go Rambo'' if Bonin didn't receive his songwriting contracts after a Country Music Association Awards show.
Another message described how he was carefully cataloging a set of photographs of Strait's house, ranch and recording studio, plus the homes of the singer's band members and parents.
So far George Strait has not responded regarding the indictment and the Federal investigators are not commenting further on the case. More on George Strait
Copyright ©2004, Net Music Countdown. All Rights Reserved.
George Strait Threatened
"Nobody wants to see me go Rambo!"
By Neil Haislop, Country Forever Productions
NASHVILLE, TN Sunday 2.15.2004 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- A Lousiana songwriter named Walter J. Bonin was indicted on 7 counts of extortion in Nashville Wednesday for allegedly threatening George Strait if he didn’t record Bonin’s music. Bonin’s threats ranged from explosives to exploding bullets and sniper fire according to the Tennessean.
Bonin had apparently become obsessed with getting his tunes to Strait and had been trying to reach George through his manager, Erv Woolsey, from 1995 to last year. He came to the attention of the authorities when his e-mail to Strait became threatening. The following example was released with the indictment:
''Please have a nice talk to Erv (sic) and George telling them again how hard I've worked at getting my songs recorded by my idol/friend George Strait. Your wife, Anita, knows I deserve my dream and destiny. If it comes down to it and I have no choice but to go Rambo, let me just say that I won't be the lone gunman.''
The message continues by describing the carnage he could bring to Strait's home in a matter of minutes, adding, ''Well, it doesn't have to end with war. One song will be fine.''
He also boasted what could happen to parts of Nashville's Music Row: ''Picture this, in less than five minutes the entire 18th Avenue South can be whiped (sic) off the map.''
In another message to O'Brien the next day, Bonin bragged about a refuge in a Louisiana swamp, court records say. He described claymore mines, explosive wires, plastic explosives, machine guns, snipers and a place he said not even the Navy SEALs could penetrate.
''Guess nobody wants to see me go Rambo, huh? Well, it's up to George and Erv now. Have a good day!''
Follow-up e-mails described in court documents contained a threat ''to go Rambo'' if Bonin didn't receive his songwriting contracts after a Country Music Association Awards show.
Another message described how he was carefully cataloging a set of photographs of Strait's house, ranch and recording studio, plus the homes of the singer's band members and parents.
So far George Strait has not responded regarding the indictment and the Federal investigators are not commenting further on the case. More on George Strait
Copyright ©2004, Net Music Countdown. All Rights Reserved.