An Arkansas man, who ran for Illinois governor in 2018, has been arrested after he allegedly threatened to kill two Lake County judges last week, police said.
Grayson K. Jackson, also known as Kash Jackson, 43, of the 200 block of Red Barn Antique Road in Paris, Arkansas, was charged with one count of threatening a public official.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday that Jackson called the Lake County Sheriff’s Court Security Office on October 7.
During the telephone call, Jackson threatened to kill two judges, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.
Both of the judges presided over an ongoing civil case that Jackson is a party of, Covelli said.
The sheriff’s office reviewed the incident with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, which drafted a warrant for Jackson.
A judge authorized the warrant and set Jackson’s bond at $500,000 on October 7.
“Threatening the life of someone you are upset with, let alone a sitting Judge, is inexcusable. We take our responsibility of maintaining the safety and security of our judiciary seriously, and will investigate death threats to a Judge, or anyone else, to the fullest extent,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
The warrant was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and Jackson was arrested on Thursday by the Logan County, Arkansas Sheriff’s Office without incident.
Jackson remains held in the Logan County Jail pending extradition hearings.
“The safety of our judiciary and our court personnel is paramount. Our office approved charges after listening to the evidence. It is never ever justified to threaten a public official under any circumstances,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
“Our office thanks the Sheriff and his team for their work in protecting our courthouse, and this defendant will have to face consequences for his threats that undermine the rule of law,” Rinehart added.
Additional charges are likely in the case against Jackson, who ran in the 2018 election for Illinois governor and was nominated as the Libertarian candidate. Jackson was living in Antioch at the time.
He made news headlines during his campaign due to a child custody and support dispute with his ex-wife.
During an August 2018 court hearing, Jackson squared off in a shouting match with Lake County Judge Joseph Salvi, the Daily Herald reported at the time.
Salvi called Jackson the most “self-centered” and “egotistical” person he’s encountered in his courtroom.