Threats over controversial northern Utah data center result in criminal charges
Jun 17, 2026, 2:00 PM
A man who allegedly made threats over a proposed data center in Box Elder County is now facing criminal charges. (mehaniq41, Adobe Stock)
(mehaniq41, Adobe Stock)
MILLCREEK — A Salt Lake City man is accused of sending threatening messages to a man who allegedly played a role in bringing a controversial data center to Box Elder County.
Daniel Charles Kasimow, 56, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with stalking, a class A misdemeanor; and four counts of making a threat of violence and four counts of electronic communication harassment, class B misdemeanors.
From May 22 through May 28, Kasimow sent text messages to a man, threatening to kill him, according to charging documents, despite being told by both the victim and law enforcement to stop.
The messages included, “You … better pray to Jesus Christ that data center doesn’t come to Utah or (you’re) both dead,” and ” I’ll just shoot you in the face.”
Kasimow threatened the man and his business partner, and threatened to come to the man’s house, the charges state.
The victim “stated that they relocated to a different residence and that he has spent approximately $14,000 in additional security measures, along with a police camera placed at his home and increased police supervision/patrols,” according to charging documents.
A police booking affidavit further states that the man “reported spending nearly $20,000 on safety measures for his residence … (including) approximately $4,000 on residential surveillance and an additional $14,000 on window coverings. He explained his home contains several large windows which previously did not have coverings because of the scenic nature of the area.”
After he was taken into custody, Kasimow “acknowledged that he should have let the situation go and that he got ‘pretty hot’ meaning angry, in the text messages. Kasimow wrote a letter apologizing, stating, ‘I am truly sorry I threatened your life over the upcoming data center coming to Utah,'” prosecutors wrote in charging documents.
Charging documents do not state what role the victim had in bringing the data center to Utah, but the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the victim is not a government official. The case was investigated by the Unified Police Department.
