Church Concert Banter Turns Into Felony Threats Case Over Political Views

Sep 21

A Mora man is facing charges in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties after authorities say he sent a barrage of violent threats to two church music directors following a concert earlier this month.

According to criminal complaints filed Friday, 64-year-old John Allan Sandeen Jr. is accused of emailing threats between Sept. 12 and Sept. 16 that targeted a music director in Maple Grove and another in White Bear Lake.

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Prosecutors in Hennepin County charged Sandeen with four felony counts of threats of violence, while Ramsey County prosecutors filed felony counts of stalking and threats of violence. Each threat of violence charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the stalking charge carries up to 10 years and a $20,000 fine.

The complaints say the messages began days after Sandeen attended a Sept. 7 Beatles-themed concert at White Bear Lake Methodist Church. During the performance, two musicians briefly joked about President Nixon, John Lennon and immigration policy before continuing with their set. Authorities say Sandeen took offense to the comments, later sending dozens of emails to the White Bear Lake music director, who he has known for decades, and to the Maple Grove music director, who also performed that night.

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Investigators say the emails escalated quickly from complaints about politics at concerts to explicit threats of mutilation and murder. Among the messages, Sandeen allegedly told the Maple Grove director he would “cut [his] head off and put his p**** in his mouth where it belongs” and wrote to the White Bear Lake director, “You better f***ing hide. Game on, you mother f***er.” Other threats included promises to break the director’s fingers so he could never play music again, cut throats, and target “liberal left leaning people.”

White Bear Lake police say the threats left both directors fearful that Sandeen would carry them out. One of the directors told investigators he believed Sandeen would physically harm him or others at his church. The Maple Grove director reported being “very scared” and convinced the threats were real.

On Sept. 17, officers located Sandeen in Rush City at an airport hangar and executed a search warrant. Investigators recovered multiple cell phones, tablets, ammunition, and shotgun shells. Sandeen admitted to writing some of the emails but claimed he may have been drunk and said “crazy s***,” later asking for a lawyer when pressed further.

Sandeen remains in custody in Ramsey County, where he made an initial court appearance Friday and bail was set at $10,000 with conditions. The Hennepin County case was charged by warrant with bail set at $200,000. His next court appearance is scheduled in Ramsey County on Oct. 8.

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