A western Montana man has been acquitted of threatening to kill President Barack Obama if he should ever visit the area.

The Missoulian reports a federal jury in Missoula acquitted 43-year-old Daniel Roger Rachell of Darby on Tuesday after a two-day trial.

Rachell, a Gulf War veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder, was charged after a co-worker told the Secret Service in March that Rachell had obtained a concealed carry permit and had identified spots in Hamilton where he could ambush a presidential motorcade.

Rachell testified that he had made racist remarks and that his heart gets ahead of his brain when he's frustrated, but that he does not dwell on killing the president.

Prosecutors argued a person doesn't have to have a good or realistic plan to be found guilty.

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