Hillbilly, mountain man, alleged conman and alleged scam artist . . . David Shane Shelby has a new entry for his resume - alleged presidential terrorist.
The Indiana man, who was arrested Wednesday in Ogden after he attempted to mail a bomb to President Clinton and a gun to Charles Manson of "Helter Skelter" infamy, is no stranger to crime.Shelby spent at least part of his youth in Owen County, Indiana. He was arrested there on April 12, 1989, for burglary and served less than three years in prison.
Owen County investigators described him as a "survivalist . . . known to have tortured small animals and cats," according to The Herald-Times in Bloomington, Ind.
Shelby was indicted by a grand jury in Jefferson County, Ky., in June 1993 on charges of defrauding merchants and three local banks of $10,000 in cash and merchandise.
Kentucky police also say Shelby masterminded a scheme to promote wealth and fame through professional wrestling and is responsible for several check-fraud scams.
In 1993, Shelby's Louisville landlord described him in a story that appeared in The Courier-Journal as a "mountain man" who used the alias Jeremiah Taylor and wore bib overalls with his hair long and bushy and a full beard .
Almost a month before the landlord's interview, Shelby had disappeared. Investigators believe he orchestrated an elaborate fraud scheme that focused on a newspaper ad that touted "top pay" and "excellent benefits" for those interested in professional wrestling.
Shelby was also wanted in 1993 on a warrant from Indianapolis, where he is accused of operating a similar scheme under the guise of Shelby Janitorial Service. The business is connected to some $30,000 of fraud-related loss, according to The Herald-Times.
Shelby attracted the attention of the Secret Service in December after he allegedly sent threatening letters to Clinton and Gore.
"I hate you . . . turn Charles Manson loose or I will kill you," said the letter mailed to Clinton. The message to Gore criticized the vice president's performance and threatened to kill him if he didn't appoint Charles "Tex" Watson as his successor. Both letters were signed "David Shelby."
Watson and Manson were both convicted for a 1969 killing spree that included the murders of pregnant California actress Sharon Tate and several of her friends.
At the time of his arrest Wednesday, Shelby was also wanted in Indiana for a parole violation.