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CRIME

Ohio country club members: Bartender accused of threatening Boehner changed after concussion

Associated Press
Published | Updated

WEST CHESTER, Ohio – Members of an Ohio country club said they noticed changes two years ago in a former bartender there who now is accused of threatening to kill House Speaker John Boehner.

Court records made available Tuesday show Cincinnati resident Michael R. Hoyt was indicted on a charge of threatening to murder Boehner who, as House speaker, is second in line for the presidency in the event of a vacancy.

A separate criminal complaint says Hoyt was fired last fall from Wetherington Country Club where Boehner is a member and has his home in West Chester Township. It says Hoyt told police he "did not have time" to put something into Boehner's drink.

Club member George Lang told the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/1IB1KVO ) in Thursday's editions that he saw changes in Hoyt's demeanor after he suffered a concussion during a mugging two years ago.

"He let his hair grow, grew a beard, I saw changes in his personality," said Lang, who is a West Chester Township trustee. "He'd get a little snarky . he was never like that."

Hoyt was treated for a psychotic episode about two years ago and stopped taking prescribed medication months ago, according to the complaint.

The lawyer listed as Hoyt's attorney has not responded to requests for comment.

A special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police says in the complaint that Hoyt said he began hearing the devil's voice from his car and home radios after he was fired, telling him that Boehner was "evil."

Hoyt, 44, is being held for mental evaluation and treatment in Massachusetts, and authorities believe he "poses a current and ongoing credible threat" to Boehner, according to federal records.

After Hoyt was fired, Lang said the ex-bartender mailed about 50 club members an "incoherent" letter detailing Hoyt's concerns about why he was fired and problems with the club he could fix.

Lang told the newspaper he never saw any negative interaction between Boehner and Hoyt.

Club member Darlene Todd described Hoyt as a "very congenial and very happy person."

"I never really imagined that Mike would really ever do anything to hurt John," Todd told the newspaper.

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Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com