Danbury Man Sentenced To 18 Months After Threatening Judge: Feds

DANBURY, CT — A Danbury man was sentenced to prison for threatening a federal judge, a federal prosecutor, and others.

Devin James Melycher, 30, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release in a ruling from a New Hampshire court on Tuesday.

Melycher previously pled guilty to three counts of mailing threatening communications, one count of threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer, and two counts of threatening to murder a federal judge.

According to prosecutors, Melycher sent numerous letters threatening to kill a federal judge, a prosecutor, his court-appointed counsel, a retired U.S. magistrate judge, and a federal law enforcement officer involved in his then-pending criminal matter — travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct — between May and September 2022.

Melycher's 18-month sentence will run consecutive to a previously imposed 135-month sentence.

"Threatening to kill federal officials is a serious crime, not protected speech," said United States Attorney Jane E. Young. "My office will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who seek to harm or intimidate public servants are brought to justice for their criminal conduct."