The man, first convicted in 1992 of threatening three city officials, has violated his probation.
By Times Staff Writer
Published March 25, 2004
CLEARWATER - A self-proclaimed minister and weight-loss guru, convicted in 1992 of threats and extortion against three city officials, was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in prison for violating his probation.
Joel Robert Witmer forged a document related to an appeal on his conviction and will likely spend 11/2 years in prison, said Assistant State Attorney Bob Lewis.
Circuit Judge Douglas Baird gave Witmer credit for time already served and also sentenced him to 30 years of probation.
A jury convicted Witmer in November 1992 after a weeklong trial in which members heard bizarre tales of freedom fighters, mercenaries, threats and religion.
In 1988, Witmer made threats to three city officials who told him he would have to pay for a license if he wanted to operate his weight-loss and stop-smoking clinics.
Police learned of the case when Witmer warned them that four mercenaries were going to maim or kill city officials Floyd Carter, Fred Mole and Stuart Williams.
Witmer, who was arrested in April for forgery, spent 51/2 years in prison for his prior conviction.
