Man imprisoned for threatening judge

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who threatened a Kootenai County judge received a prison sentence.

Robert W. Peterson, 34, pleaded guilty in July to making a threat to a public servant, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. 

First District Judge Lamont Berecz sentenced Peterson this week to five years in prison, the maximum possible sentence, with parole eligibility after three years. Because Peterson received credit for the 529 days he spent in jail before receiving his sentence, he will be eligible for parole in about a year and a half. 

The charge stems from August 2023, when prosecutors said Peterson, upset about a decision a Kootenai County judge had made in a civil case involving him, sent a threatening letter to the Office of the Governor. 

In the letter, which Peterson later emailed to the judge, Peterson claimed that the judge had “declared war against him,” and that if the judge refused to “repent,” Peterson would authorize “the Host of Heaven” and “Death” to “collect” the judge’s life, according to court records. 

Prosecutors filed a felony charge against Peterson last April. 

Defense counsel for Peterson argued that Peterson’s words were “metaphysical” in nature and he made no direct threat against the judge, while prosecutors argued it was “logical” to assume Peterson might act on his words. 

Before handing down the sentence, Berecz said the contents of Peterson’s letter and email were “very disturbing and alarming” and represented a “serious threat.” He said imposing less than the maximum sentence would “depreciate the crime.” 

“Up to this point in time, our country succeeded because of its commitment to the rule of law,” Berecz said. “When you threaten a judge with death for disagreeing with a ruling, it undermines what our society and justice system is all about. That is now happening more and more every day. This is alarming and concerning.”