Former Justice of the Peace Charged With Making ‘Terroristic Threat’
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Digital Vision/Thinkstock(KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas) — A former Kaufman County, Texas, justice of the peace was charged with making a “terroristic threat” after authorities searched his home as part of the ongoing investigation into the killings of two prosecutors in the county.
Eric Williams, 46, of Kaufman, was booked into the Kaufman County Jail early Saturday morning. His bond was set at $1 million, ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA-TV reported.
The search was executed after the fatal shooting of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, whose bodies were found in their Forney, Texas home on March 30. In January, Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was gunned outside the county courthouse.
Williams was not named a suspect in the deaths of the Kaufman County officials, The Associated Press reported.
Authorities searched both Williams’ home and his in-laws’ house from Friday afternoon into the early hours of Saturday morning. They removed boxes, computers and guns from the former justice of the peace’s residence, WFAA reported.
Earlier this month, Williams’ hands were tested for gunshot residue. The test results were negative.
Williams’ attorney, David Sergi, said his client denies the charges against him.
“[Williams] has cooperated with law enforcement and vigorously denies any and all allegations,” Sergi said. “He wishes simply to get on with his life and hopes that the perpetrators and brought to justice.”
The district attorney’s office prosecuted and convicted Williams last year for two counts of felony theft, which resulted in him losing his justice of the peace position, WFAA reported.
Williams appealed his conviction. He is scheduled for a hearing on May 22 in the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas.
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