RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) – A Waterbury Center man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for mailing threatening letters to the president and other officials.

William F. Erno III, 26, pleaded guilty last November to three counts of a nine-count indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Bush, Gov. James Douglas and employees of the Caledonia County Family Court.

The letter to the court contained a white powder that Erno claimed was anthrax. The powder was later determined to be harmless.

Another letter sent to the St. Johnsbury post office contained a bomb threat.

The post office had to be evacuated.