Authorities say a man threatened to hurt a Lake County judge and fight him because he was frustrated he had not yet been able to have a jury trial in his case.
Joseph W. Lichon, 29, of Third Lake, was charged with one count of threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony.
Lichon allegedly called the Lake County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office on October 13, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
During the call, Lichon said he was frustrated about not being able to have a jury trial yet in his pending arbitration case, Covelli said.
Lichon said he was going to hurt the judge that is presiding over the case and said he was ready to fight, Covelli said.
A member of the Lake County Sheriffโs Court Emergency Response Team responded and spoke to Lichon on the telephone before he hung up with the circuit clerk employee.
The Sheriffโs Court Emergency Response Team met with the Lake County Stateโs Attorneyโs Office and obtained an arrest warrant for the felony charge.
A judge set bond on the warrant at $50,000. Lichon was arrested on Sunday and transported to the Lake County Jail.
Lichon remains held in the jail and would need to post $5,000 cash in order to be released.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday where a judge from another circuit court is expected to preside over the hearing.