Livermore Ex-Mayoral Candidate Jailed For Facebook Threat

LIVERMORE, CA — A man who ran for Livermore mayor in 2018 has been arrested and charged with posting a comment on Facebook that threatened to burn down the home of a Contra Costa County judge. Joshua Laine, 34, targeted Superior Court Judge Jill Fannin, who contacted police, according to a report in East Bay Times.

Laine remained jailed Monday after a judge denied a defense request to release him.

According to the EBT report, Laine's Facebook post said that “judges who violate the law get their houses burned down … just saying.” The comment was made on a Facebook group called California Family Advocacy, which includes posts that accuse Contra Costa County judges of corruption, according to the report.

During the 2018 election in Livermore, Laine faced off against incumbent Mayor John Marchand. Laine lost by a wide margin, receiving only 22 percent of votes, according to Alameda County election results. Watch a campaign video featuring Laine below.

Laine's biography on his Facebook campaign page states that he's been a Livermore resident since 1986, attended Livermore High School, and afterward joined the U.S. Marines. He was honorably discharged by the Corps in 2007, according to his page.

Read the full East Bay Times story.