Man arrested for threatening judge
Published 10:55 am Thursday, July 24, 2008
A 38-year-old Verbena man is in custody after allegedly threatening Circuit Court Judge Sibley Reynolds.
Charles Mefford will appear before District Judge Rhonda Hardesty for arraignment Friday morning for charges of making terrorist threats, a class C felony, against Reynolds.
Reynolds presided over a case involving Mefford’s mother, Linda Mefford who is the former director of the Prattville-Autauga Humane Society. Linda Mefford was convicted in June for first-degree and third-degree theft charges after she allegedly took money from the humane society adoption fees, which were paid in cash, and had checks cut to reimburse her for lawn services that were not provided.
“We take security of our courthouse personnel very seriously,” District Attorney Randall Houston said. “It is never wise for anyone to threaten and officer of the court, most escpecially a presiding judge in the 19th Circuit. I appreciate the Autauga and Chilton County Sheriff’s Offices and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation for their quick response and professional multi-jurisdictional handling of this case.”
Linda Mefford is scheduled to be sentenced by Reynolds in Autauga County on Tuesday, Aug. 26.