Pensacola Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Kill A Federal Judge

Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Stephen Jay Thorn (66, Pensacola) has pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of a threat to injure a Federal District Court Judge. Thorn faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on October 24, 2022, Thorn, unhappy with a judicial opinion that he had read about online, made an interstate telephone call to the District Court Judge’s chambers. Thorn left a vulgar, obscenity-laden voicemail threatening to harm the judge as well as members of the judge’s immediate family.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler III.