Mother charged with threatening jurors who convicted her son

(Billings, Montana-AP) -- The mother of a Montana man convicted of trying to kill her is accused of harassing the jurors.<br><br>Kevin Schmalz was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1996 after being convicted

Thursday, December 9th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Billings, Montana-AP) -- The mother of a Montana man convicted of trying to kill her is accused of harassing the jurors.

Kevin Schmalz was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1996 after being convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault in the shooting of his parents. They had tried to get the charges dropped, but the case went to trial anyway.

Now the mother, Barbara Schmalz, is accused of making harassing phone calls to members of the jury -- threatening them with lawsuits and saying the panel was fixed.

She's pleaded innocent to one felony count, and is free on bail.