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Father of officer’s killer convicted of witness intimidation

NEW KENSINGTON, PA. (AP) — The father of a man convicted in the fatal shooting of a western Pennsylvania police officer has been found guilty of intimidating a potential witness in his son’s trial.

A Westmore­land County jury convicted Gregory Baucum, 49, on two misdemeanor counts Wednesday but acquitted him on a felony charge. The former Arnold resident faces up to four years in state prison when he's sentenced later this year.

Authorities have said Baucum threatened the witness on social media, labeled her a snitch and published details online of her cooperation with law enforcement. The woman testified that Baucum sent her messages in which he called her a “cheese-eating rat snitch” and sent emojis of a block of cheese and a casket, which made her fear for her safety.

Baucum admitted sending the messages but testified that he did so as free speech and to alert other community members about her police cooperation.

The woman did not testify at the trial of Baucum’s son, Rahmael Sal Holt. He was sentenced to death after being convicted last year of first-degree murder in the November 2017 shooting death of New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw.

Previous coverage: Rahmael Holt sentenced to death for murder of Officer Brian Shaw