BENTONVILLE — A May jury trial is scheduled for a Bella Vista man accused of threatening a circuit judge and two attorneys.
Ricky Lee Witcher, 54, is charged with threatening a judicial officer/juror, a Class B felony, and two counts of terroristic threatening, a Class D felony. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Witcher appeared in court Wednesday for a bond hearing. His bond originally was set at $350,000. Tyler Benson, Witcher's attorney, had requested a bond reduction.
Circuit Judge Robin Green denied the request, and Witcher will remain in the Benton County Jail on the original bond.
Green set Witcher's jury trial for May 28. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 27.
Witcher's arrest stems from statements he made concerning Circuit Judge John Scott and attorneys Greg Clark and Seth Bickett, according to court documents.
David Cook, a process server, gave court papers to Witcher at his job in Bella Vista in January, according to court documents. The papers were in connection with legal matters in a divorce case.
Cook said Witcher became angry with the legal system, according to the probable cause affidavit. Witcher said he hated Scott, and if he had a gun, he would put a bullet in Scott's head, Cook said. Witcher repeated the statement several times, according to court documents. Witcher told Cook he wasn't going back to Scott's court and planned to leave the state, according to the affidavit.
Cook said Witcher again said Scott, Clark and Bickett needed to be killed, according to court documents. Clark represented Witcher, and Bickett acted as a child ad litem attorney in the divorce case.
Elizabeth Castleman, deputy prosecutor, filed a motion seeking permission to do a video deposition of Cook since he is being treated for a medical issue in Florida. Green granted Castleman's motion.
NW News on 02/27/2014