OAKLAND, Calif. - A 45-year-old man faces hate crime charges after allegedly sending threatening and racist emails to Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee , including threats to kill and torture her, authorities said.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged David Pokorny, of El Cerrito, with threatening a public official and hate crime.

He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin with bail set at $70,000.

Disturbing emails sent to mayor

Members of Mayor Lee’s staff contacted law enforcement after receiving several threatening and disturbing emails sent from an unfamiliar Google account, officials said.

The first email from the defendant was received on Sept. 7, but a staff member discovered the emails on Sept. 22 while checking the mayor’s inbox. The messages contained e

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