David Lee Graham
A 30-year-old Hixson man has been charged with making threats to kill General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom after police said they found evidence to tie him to recent threats against the judge.
David Lee Graham, of 1730 Colorado St., is charged with retaliation against a judge.
His bond was raised to $100,000.
Detective Ric Whaley said he had been conducting an investigation into "strange fax messages coming into the Hamilton County Courthouse addressed to Judge Statom. The fax messages were strange but did not contain any threats."
On Friday, the detective said he was made aware of an email sent by what was believed to be the person of interest in the fax messages.
He said in the emails there were specific threats made, including, "We are going to kill Judge Statom" and "We have a courthouse bomb."
Authorities said while the detective was trying to track down the source of the emails, Sgt. David Sowder ran across Graham in the 2400 block of Jenkins Road.
Sgt. Sowder said upon taking Graham into custody on non-related charges he found that Graham "had notebooks on his person consistent with the fax and emails being sent."
He also recovered a cellphone.
A report says Graham admitted sending the fax and emails, saying he used the wifi at Heritage Park to get online.
Graham had been before Judge Statom on a charge of reckless burning.
Judge Christie Sell is assigned the new charge against him.