$75,000 bond set for man accused of threatening Middletown judge

A man is being held on a $75,000 bond after he allegedly threatened Middletown Municipal Court Judge Melynda Cook Howard.

Timothy Wayne Abney, 41, of the 2300 block of Waneta Street, was in court Friday morning for a pre-trial hearing on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, according to municipal court records.

MORE: Middletown man accused of setting cat on fire appears in court

When Abney was being escorted back to the jail, which is located in the basement of the city building, he threatened the judge by stating she was a “(expletive, expletive) and I better not find out where that (expletive) lives,” according to the complaint filed by Middletown Police Detective Jon Hoover.

Abney was then charged with retaliation, a third-degree felony.

MORE: Middletown house a total loss after fire

Visiting Judge Thomas Hanna arraigned Abney on Friday afternoon on the new charge, set bond, and set a preliminary hearing for Dec. 18.

Abney was also told to stay away from Cook Howard

“I said some things I shouldn’t have … it is a big misunderstanding,” Abney told Hanna at the arraignment.

MORE: No criminal charges for former Middletown teacher

About the Author