A Parma man is under investigation for allegedly threatening to kill a judge after an outburst in court that landed him additional jail time for contempt.
Scott Bartkiewicz was originally sentenced to 30 days in jail on a menacing charge by Judge Timothy Gilligan at Parma Municipal Court. After yelling at the judge and threatening to sue, Gilligan added another 30 days for contempt of court.
Parma police confirmed to investigators that after being removed from court, Bartkiewicz threatened bailiffs and jail staff. Police also confirmed he made a direct threat against Judge Gilligan, allegedly stating the judge would be in the grave by the time he was done, calling it a promise.
Bartkiewicz is currently being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail and could face a felony charge for intimidation of a public servant or official.
Authorities emphasized that in the current climate with death threats, attempted assassinations, and violence being perpetrated against police and elected officials, every threat must be taken seriously. Officials noted that guns are readily available in society, making these threats very real and dangerous.
This incident marks the latest in a series of threats against local judges. Last winter, a man pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated menacing and telecommunications harassment after threatening to shoot Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo and shoot up the justice center downtown.
Judge Gilligan has presided over Parma Municipal Court since December 1993 and previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Medina County.
The investigation into the threats remains ongoing.
Watch Video from Fox 8 here: https://fox8.com/video/investigation-underway-after-man-accused-of-threatening-a-judge/11193150
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