Cleveland man charged with threatening judges

By Mason Edwards, Chattanooga Times Free Press

A Cleveland, Tennessee, man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly making threatening phone calls targeting judges in Hamilton County, according to a press release from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Monday, detectives were called to the Hamilton County Courthouse after courthouse staff received harassing voicemails. According to the release, investigators said the messages, left by a man later identified as Darrell Brackett, 58, included threats directed at multiple judges. Brackett allegedly threatened Judges Boyd Patterson, J.B. Bennett, Lila Statom and Alex McVeagh with three voicemails in one day, according to an affidavit.

"I'm going to come after you with everything that I have left in my life," Brackett said, according to a transcript included in an affidavit. "I don't know how much I have left, but I'm going to give it all I have towards you and all your cohorts that have continuously covered up my federal case in civil court with Judge Bennett."

According to the transcript, Brackett complained that having to pay the maximum child support kept him from knowing his two children, and that they don't care what his ex-wife did to him.

"I'm going to eviscerate every one of you," Brackett said in the transcript, adding profanities toward the judges. "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but by the grace of God, it will be the righteous way. I'll do it in a court of law."

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Brackett continued in a second call, accusing Patterson, with his "psychological degree," he added, of cowardice and of wanting to hurt people. Patterson oversees the Hamilton County Mental Health Court and has previously said he's always been interested in understanding the psychology behind criminal behavior.

"And I will put an end to you. I promise you that I will end your tyranny," Brackett said in the transcript. "You don't even deserve to be a father."

Between obscenities, Brackett mentioned that he'll be coming after the judges, before ending the third message with: "Oh, by the way, now you're going to have to go public."

"I just want to move on with my life and let y'all figure out what you did wrong," Brackett said in the transcript. "Do I want it cost you a lot of money? Yeah, I kind of do."

Brackett was arrested Tuesday at 1:51 p.m. and charged with four counts each of harassment, aggravated stalking and terrorism, as well as one charge of retaliation for alleged past actions against a judge. The affidavit of complaint signed by Detective Sarah Long-Ross and Judge Ron D. Powers, noted that, due to McVeagh's ongoing civil case regarding Brackett, detectives sought out the warrant for retaliation for past action.

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett warned in a written statement that anyone, even in different counties, cannot threaten Hamilton County judges without having their day in court, as his office takes such threats seriously.

(READ MORE: Hamilton County seeking ideas to reuse, redevelop old downtown jail building)

"For anyone to believe they can intimidate or threaten Hamilton County judges without swift and decisive action from law enforcement is not just reckless — it's delusional," the statement said. "Let me be clear: You do not threaten a judge in this county and walk away without facing the consequences of those actions."

Brackett was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on the outstanding charges. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office website, his bond is set at $100,000.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press has reached out to Patterson for comment, but he did not immediately respond as of press time.