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SALT LAKE CITY — A man allegedly upset about being muted during a virtual court hearing is accused of threatening the judge, several members of the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and the Salt Lake County sheriff.
Shawn Calvin Somerville, 33, of Salt Lake City, was charged on Friday in Utah's 3rd District Court with making a threat of terrorism, a second-degree felony.
During a recent court hearing Somerville "became upset that he was muted on Webex," according to charging documents. On Wednesday, he sent an email to Salt Lake County Justice Court mentioning the judge in his case by name while making statements, in all capital letters, such as "You're … dead U better hope cops find me first," and "Do urself a favor and kill urself easy way out cuz when I get hold of (you) … I swear on all my kids … lives ur gonna wish and beg and pray for death," charging documents state.
A similar email was sent to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. Then on Friday, Somerville sent similar emails to three more prosecutors and Sheriff Rosie Rivera, the charges state.
"In the emails, Somerville makes specific threats towards the victims, including they were 'gonna wish and beg and pray for death' and stating, 'thank the judge for signing your own death warrant,'" according to the charges.
Somerville faces misdemeanor charges in three other cases, including two that involve domestic violence, court records state.
