CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An Elkview man faces charges for allegedly threatening to kill a Kanawha County judge.
Deputies arrested John Duncan, 39, of Elkview on Monday.
The threat allegedly came during a court-mandated counseling session. Duncan was ordered by Kanawha County Judge Jennifer Bailey to undergo drug screening and psychological evaluation as part of an ongoing abuse and neglect case being handled in Bailey’s court.
The counselor evaluating Duncan said she asked a number of mandatory questions which included, “What would you do if your parental rights were terminated?”
According to the criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County, Duncan responded, “I would kill her and I would be on death row.” The counselor advised Duncan she would have to report the statement to the judge.
“The longer I sit here the longer I incriminate myself,” Duncan told the counselor, according to the complaint. “Everyday she would look in the mirror and be reminded of why she shouldn’t’ have done that to me.”
He’s officially charged with intimidation and retaliation against public officers and employees, jurors, and witnesses.