Little League dad advised not to "screw it up" at sentencing for threats case

Wade Campbell, who has been in jail since a jury convicted him Jan. 25 of making terroristic threats against his son's Little League coach, likely won't have to spend any more time in jail.

At Campbell's sentencing Wednesday morning, Ramsey County District Judge Michael DeCourcy stayed a prison sentence of a year and a day, ordered him to serve 65 days in the county workhouse and gave him credit for 65 days already served.

The judge also put Campbell on probation for five years, ordered him to have no contact with the coach, Noe Ambriz, or his family and to meet other conditions, including seeking counseling.

Ambriz and his wife, Yvonne, were not in the courtroom Wednesday.

"They just want it to be over," said prosecutor Mark Hammer.

Hammer acknowledged that many of Campbell's friends and family members had sent letters of support to the court.

He said the letters, along with the jury's verdict, show that "the defendant has an anger management problem ... and also has a good heart."

The case stemmed from a series of incidents that began at a Little League game last June 22 at the Parkway field in the Dayton's Bluff area. According to testimony during the trial and court documents, Campbell berated his son after he struck out. He became belligerent with Yvonne Ambriz, the team manager, when she asked him to leave the dugout and made racist comments about the coach and his relatives.

A short time later, Campbell returned to the dugout and threatened to punch the opposing coach when he tried to get Campbell out. Over the next two days, a series of incidents unfolded, culminating in an angry phone call to Ambriz at his home.

According to Ambriz's testimony, Campbell threatened to come over and "shoot him down like a dog."

The judge told Campbell he'd read the psychological report in which "You still deny, STILL deny, 'I didn't do that.'

"Anger management? Haven't you had anger management before? Worked well, huh?"

"Don't screw it up."