Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Christopher Butler, age 37, of South Berwick, Maine, plead guilty and was sentenced on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in the Merrimack County Superior Court to Threat against Certain Government Officials and Criminal Threatening.
On March 16, 2022, Mr. Butler called into the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center and threatened bodily injury against Judge Philip Cross with the purpose to retaliate for one of his orders he made as part of his official duties and with the purpose to terrorize any person.
Mr. Butler plead guilty to one indictment of a class B felony Threats against Certain Government Officials and was sentenced to serve twelve months in the Merrimack County House of Corrections, with all but six months suspended for three years. He has been ordered to have no contact with Judge Philip Cross and must complete anger management and/or mental health counseling. Mr. Butler also plead guilty to one complaint of a class A misdemeanor Criminal Threatening.
The Attorney General’s Office is designated by statute as the agency that reviews any allegation of harm or threats made against Government Officials, including members of the Judicial Branch. Those types of allegations are taken seriously and the Attorney General’s Office reviews all such allegations to determine if a crime has occurred.
Assistant Attorney General Dan A. Jimenez of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit prosecuted this case. Deputy Chief Investigator Todd Flanagan, also of the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit, and Major Steven Bourque of the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter.