Ex-lecturer held without bail over alleged threats

A federal judge on Thursday ordered a former lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles, to be held without bail in Denver after he allegedly threatened violence against the school in online videos and an 800-page document sent via email earlier this week.

Matthew Harris, 31, was taken into custody Tuesday in Boulder and charged with the threat. He had lectured in the university’s philosophy department until being put on “investigatory leave” last year.

Harris appeared in federal court in Denver to be advised of his rights Thursday. Dressed in a black shirt, black shorts with his arms handcuffed and his ankles shackled, he appeared to look down or have his eyes closed as the magistrate judge asked him a series of questions.

He did not turn to look at Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews and answered “yes” flatly to each question about his rights and whether he understood the proceedings.

Harris is charged with transmission of threats in interstate commerce. He did not enter a plea Thursday.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Julia Martinez said the government would like to keep Harris in custody while prosecuting him, saying Harris had made threats against a “whole host” of people and institutions. A hearing will be held Tuesday to decide whether Harris should continue to be held.

Harris’ federal public defender, Mary Butterton, declined comment after the hearing.

The emails prompted UCLA to hold classes remotely Tuesday; they had just returned to inperson teaching the day before.

The university has more than 31,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 graduate students.

While university officials have not described the emails, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday that Harris was “potentially planning for a mass violence or shooting event at UCLA.”

A seven-page affidavit, written by an FBI special agent, details a period of unstable behavior beginning in January 2021, when Harris allegedly emails his mother about his plans to “hunt” down and kill a University of California, Irvine, professor.

He had briefly met the professor years ago when they were both at Duke University and then allegedly harassed her via email and text message in 2020 and 2021.

In March, the affidavit states, Harris again allegedly emailed his mother. This time he threatened to harm himself. A few days later, he asked his mother, “Is UC Irvine reopening for classes in person?”

On March 30, UCLA police were alerted to Harris’ behavior after he sent about 20 emails to female students in his research group.

The emails allegedly contained inappropriate and offensive content, according to the court document.

The university placed him on “investigatory leave” later that day.

Less than two months later, University of California regents sought — and were later granted — a restraining order against Harris after his mother forwarded his emails to the Irvine professor.

In November, Colorado authorities say he attempted to buy a handgun there but his purchase was denied as part of a California judge’s order prohibiting him from purchasing and possessing a firearm.

Harris, who didn’t appear to have any criminal record, began working at UCLA in the spring of 2019 as a postdoctoral fellow, according to a newsletter from the university’s philosophy department.

His focus was on “philosophy of race, personal identity, and related issues in philosophy of mind.”

He completed his PH.D. at Duke University in North Carolina in 2019, where he briefly met the woman who would later be the protected party in the restraining order.