Comedian pleads not guilty in death threat case against California politician
Local comedian Anthony Krayenhagen pleaded not guilty Friday to charges related to alleged death threats made against Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit earlier this month.
During a Nov. 13 phone call, Krayenhagen allegedly told Condit that he was “greenlit” — slang for carrying out a hit on someone — and that it was “on-site when I see you and your friends,” according to prosecutors and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.
The comedian was arrested Nov. 20 and initially charged with making a threat to cause death or bodily harm to a public official. Prosecutors have since added charges of making a threat not related to someone being a public official and harassment via electronic devices.
What happened leading up to Krayenhagen’s arrest involved back-and-forth accusations, criminal and not, among and against the parties involved. It all stemmed from an incident at one of the comedian’s shows in September.
“I didn’t ask for any of this. This certainly hasn’t helped me politically in any way,” Condit told The Bee. “This has only cast a further negative light through controversy onto me, and I’m just now worried about living my life and continuing to raise my kids.”
Prosecutors and Condit allege the threats were a culmination of a public feud between Krayenhagen and Motecuzoma Sanchez — a friend of Condit’s and founder of the Stockton-based opinion and news site 209 Times.
The feud originated with an argument between Krayenhagen and Sanchez at the comedian’s Sept. 9 performance at Che’root Cigar Lounge in downtown Modesto. Condit, who represents the county’s 5th District, was in attendance and seated near Sanchez .
Multiple people have presented conflicting accounts of what happened and what was said that night. The Bee has not yet been able to independently confirm any accounts.
Condit asserts he did not know who Krayenhagen was before the alleged threats on his life were made. He also added that he did not interject into the argument and was an “innocent bystander” to what happened.
It was his birthday, the supervisor said, and after going to a gym, he went to Che’root to enjoy a cigar. “I was just honestly in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Condit.
Two days later on Sept. 11, Condit agreed to act as a mediator between the owner of the cigar lounge and Sanchez. Condit said during the meeting, Sanchez asked the establishment to stop hiring Krayenhagen, but the request was declined.
However, video snippets of the conversations were published on the Stockton-based satirical news site The Cabal. The video identifies Condit, who believes this was how Krayenhagen came to believe the supervisor was involved in the feud.
Over the next month, Krayenhagen made social media posts that slammed Sanchez. In return, Krayenhagen was the subject of a volley of 209 Times opinions and news pieces. Both gave conflicting accounts of what happened during and after the argument on Sept. 09.
The rhetoric online died down in October. But on Nov. 12, Krayenhagen messaged Condit on social media, asking, “Wassup? Is there still an issue?” The same day, a member of Condit’s staff informed him that Krayenhagen asked if Condit could call him.
Condit said he called Krayenhagen the next day, which is when the comedian made the alleged threats. The call was not recorded, Condit said, but he reaffirmed that he believes the language used threatened his life.
The county supervisor said he then called Sheriff Jeff Dirkse directly to inform him of the alleged threat. The agency obtained an arrest warrant for Krayenhagen the next day, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Its Special Investigations Unit was assigned the case.
Condit shared screenshots with The Bee that show one of his staff members informing him that Kayenhagen “came to the window wanting to speak to you,” allegedly after the arrest warrant was placed on him.
Detective Royjindar Singh told The Bee that Krayenhagen was contacted and detained during a traffic stop in the parking lot of a tire store in Ceres almost a week later, on Nov. 20.
Krayenhagen’s bail was set at $750,000 and included an administrative hold, meaning he cannot post bail until his income is verified as legitimate. Krayenhagen was still in jail as of late Wednesday afternoon.
During Krayenhagen’s arraignment, Judge Maria Ramos Ratliff upheld his bail and a criminal restraining order barring him from going anywhere near Condit, his home or his place of work. Krayenhagen’s bail and the restraining order were challenged by his defense.
Krayenhagen’s court-assigned defender, Preston Haselton-Parke, argued the restraining order would violate several of his client’s rights, including those under the First Amendment.
Because Condit’s place of work is at the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors’ office in Tenth Street Place, Haselton-Parke argued, Krayenhagen could not exercise his rights to engage in local politics and policy. Tenth Street Place is also the location of several county and city of Modesto offices, including the City Council chambers.
Carillo pushed back against this, saying that it was a “good faith measure” regardless of Condit’s position. He argued that similar protective orders were given in other cases involving death threats.
Ramos Ratliff said she would be OK with the order because she didn’t know if Condit had any other places of business aside from the city-county building. She also added that because it was only a physical restraining order, Krayenhagen could contact the offices at Tenth Street Place by phone, email or “other methods of communication.”
Krayenhagen’s defense also argued that his rights were further violated because a previous judge had not considered affordability when setting his bail amount. Ramos Ratliff rejected this argument, citing a concern for the safety of Condit and the public. However, Krayenhagen could be entitled to a hearing on the matter.
On his Instagram page, Krayenhagen posted a link to a crowd-source fund to pay for a private attorney.
Krayenhagen’s next court appearance will be Dec. 1 at the Stanislaus County Superior Courthouse.
