Doctor admits sending threatening e-mails to reporters Associated Press
June 5, 2003

A doctor who admitted sending e-mail death threats to two newspaper reporters earlier this year will seek permission to enter a pretrial intervention program.

Jack C. Lee, 36, a pulmonary specialist, was charged in April with two counts of making terroristic threats. He sent the e-mails - under the title "Yougonna Die" - to Lindy Washburn and Mary Jo Layton, staff writers at The Record of Bergen County.

The pair wrote a story about a protest staged in Trenton by doctors angry about rising medical malpractice insurance rates. It was published Feb. 10, the same day they received a message that said "I will track both of you down and seek vengeance. You will regret ever having written your biased articles."

Six days later, they received another e-mail that said "DEATH SHALL BE IMMINENT." Hackensack police traced the messages to a computer in a doctors' lounge at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, and further investigation led to Lee's arrest on April 11. He has since resigned from the hospital and also has left his practice.

Richard Galler, Lee's attorney, said he "realizes he made an error" and never intended any harm. Lee is due to appear in Municipal Court on Wednesday, when a judge will determine whether he can take part in the program for first-time offenders, and county authorities will forward details about the case to the state Board of Medical Examiners.

The reporters said they were relieved to hear of the arrest. The newspaper had provided them with extra security while the threats were being investigated.

"The level of premeditation was a concern - the fact that he sent one, thought about it, and then sent another," Washburn said.