Federal prosecutors say they have reached a tentative settlement with a Blanding resident accused of threatening to hurt a key witness in a sweeping illegal artifacts-trafficking investigation.

Charles Denton Armstrong, 44, was scheduled to appear in court today on a motion to suppress confessions he allegedly gave to federal law enforcement officials and others in Blanding that he would tie an undercover operative -- identified in court papers only as the "Source" -- to a tree and beat him with a baseball bat. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A defense motion filed Wednesday by federal defender L. Clark Donaldson asked for the delay, saying a settlement could be reached by early next week and also claiming that proceeding with today's hearing would require bringing witnesses from Blanding and an expert witness for the defense.

The court document also says that because Armstrong wanted authorities to disclose investigative field notes, prosecutors might be required to produce other field notes from several federal agents, a move officials have resisted.

If Armstrong and prosecutors reach a deal, they will schedule a disposition hearing. If they cannot settle the case, they will seek by next Wednesday to reschedule the suppression hearing, court papers say.

Armstrong, who has an extensive criminal history along with ties to a California white-supremacist gang, drug addiction and mental illness, has been in Salt Lake County jail since July. Federal Magistrate Brooke Wells denied Armstrong's request for release to care for his wife if she has shoulder surgery, ruling he posed a risk to the community. The case now is before U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups.

Armstrong allegedly blamed the operative for the suicide of James Redd. The Blanding doctor killed himself by carbon-monoxide poisoning the day after he and his wife, Jeanne, were indicted and their home searched during a June 10 coordinated move against 24 artifact-case suspects.

During the July 15 hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen said Armstrong claimed "he could make one phone call and have the operative taken care of," a reference to his connection to a California prison gang known as the Bakersfield Crew.

Armstrong's court-appointed attorney, Lynn Donaldson, responded that his client has had no contact with the Bakersfield Crew for at least seven years, owns no guns and "can talk tough, but doesn't act on it." Federal defender Jamie Zenger said Armstrong hasn't had any contact with the gang since he was paroled in 1989.

The gang's name is tattooed across the back of Armstrong's neck. His criminal record includes charges in California for battery and cruelty against a dependent adult and prison time.

Court papers say Armstrong learned the undercover operator's name from Jeanne Redd, 59, who pleaded guilty to seven felonies in the case. On Sept. 15, Waddoups sentenced her and her daughter, Jericca Redd, 37, who pleaded guilty to three felonies, to probation and fines.