(La Porte, IN) - A local panhandler could be begging authorities for leniency.  Ricky Sansom is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with intimidation.

According to La Porte City Police, officers about a month ago were called to Family Express on Indiana Avenue.  Police said a store clerk told him to stop asking people for money.  Sansom left but returned an hour later and was told he was now banned from the store.  In response, he allegedly told the store clerk he was going to get a gun and blow up everyone

and the store.

Sansom is charged with a level 6 felony which carries between a six month and two and a half year sentence.