New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announces the indictment of Christopher Butler, age thirty six, of South Berwick, Maine, for two counts of Class B Felony charges of harm or threats to certain government officials.
Mr. Butler is being held on preventative detention and will be arraigned on the indictments at a later date.
Count one alleges that Mr. Butler did threaten bodily injury on a phone call to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center, against Judge Philip Cross, a member of the judiciary, for the purpose of influencing an action by Judge Philip Cross, as part of his official duties.
Count two alleges that Mr. Butler threatened bodily injury on a phone call to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center, against Judge Philip Cross, a member of the judiciary, with the purpose of retaliating against Judge Philip Cross, for one of his order, which was part of his official government duties.
In addition, a complaint was previously filed charging Mr. Butler with misdemeanor criminal threatening, which is still pending. The complaint alleges that Mr. Butler threatened bodily injury on a phone call to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center against Judge Philip Cross with a purpose to terrorize any person.
Harm or threats to certain government officials is a class B felony, which is punishable by up to 7 years in State Prison and a $4,000 fine. Criminal threatening is a class A misdemeanor that is punishable by up to 12 months in the House of Corrections and a $2,000 fine.
The Public Integrity Unit of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
The charges and allegations listed above are merely accusations, and the individual who has been arrested is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant Attorney General Dan A. Jimenez of the Public Integrity Unit is prosecuting the case.