A New York City man is accused of posting an image on Facebook depicting a Macomb County district court judge in a coffin, and a Warren man is accused of making death threats toward a different district judge and Warren police.
Both are charged in connection with the alleged threats, though their cases are separate, the county prosecutor’s office announced Nov. 12. It was unclear why the men allegedly targeted the judges and police.
“Threats or acts of intimidation against judges strike at the very heart of our justice system,” Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in his office’s release.
Cole Daniel Rapp, 27, of New York City is accused of threatening 42-1 District Judge Jennifer Andary in Romeo on Sept. 14. Prosecutors said he posted an image on Facebook depicting Andary in a coffin with the caption: “Pray about this.” The image was used as his profile picture and background, according to the release.
Another post, it said, allegedly contained a video of a pot being stirred, accompanied by music with lyrics stating: “Judge in this town has bloodstains on his hands.” The prosecutor did not offer more details on this alleged threat.
Rapp is charged with unlawful posting of a message, using a computer to commit a crime, cyberbullying and malicious use of telecommunications services. He received a $500 personal recognizance bond during arraignment in October.
He stood mute and a not guilty plea was entered by the court, according to online court records. His next court dates are Nov. 24 and Dec. 15 in 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore. In an email, his attorney Andres Villafane declined to comment.
Separately, Andrew Roberts, 42, of Warren is accused of threatening Warren police, one of its officers and 37th District Court Judge Suzanne Faunce in Warren.
The prosecutor’s office said a local scanner website contacted Warren police Oct. 27 about private messages it received.
One stated: “Death to Warren PD,” and another read: “When this starts to happen you’ll know why,” accompanied by an image of an armed person shooting a handgun near the driver’s seat of a marked police vehicle. Other messages said: “Death to Judge Faunce” and “Death to Chris Wells with Warren PD,” according to the prosecutor’s office.
“My client insists that he did not post these horrible words or statements. He believes that his cell phone has been cyber-hacked and used to hurt him, embarrass him and get him in trouble by a disgruntled person with whom he has had a dispute,” Roberts’ attorney, Robert Ihrie, told the Detroit Free Press on Nov. 12.
Roberts is charged with false report or threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. He is being held in the county jail on a $500,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Nov. 6 in 39th District Court in Roseville, according to the prosecutor’s release and online court records.
He is prohibited from contacting the victims and judges or employees of the Warren district court. If he posts bond, he will be on house arrest, must wear a steel-cuff GPS tether and abstain from drugs, alcohol and internet use, according to the release. His next court dates are Nov. 19 and Nov. 26.
Roberts also was charged with assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer during his arrest. He pleaded not guilty, received a $100,000 bond on that charge and is under the same no-contact orders in that case, according to the release.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 men accused of threatening judges in Macomb County in separate cases
Reporting by Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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