Ex-Libertarian Candidate Charged With Threatening To Kill Judges

WAUKEGAN, IL — A former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate faces felony charges in connection with allegations that he threatened to kill judges involved in his divorce and custody battle.

Grayson Kash Jackson, 43, formerly known as Benjamin Winderweedle, had already been held in civil contempt in the case after refusing to pay child support or provide his address, according to court records.

On Sept. 24, a Lake County judge issued an civil contempt order for him to be taken into custody with bail set at $11,104.87 — the same amount of money he owed on child support.

On Oct. 7, Jackson placed a call to the court security office of the Lake County Sheriff's Office in which he threatened two judges in his case, according to the sheriff's office.

"He indicated he was going to kill the judges and bury them in the ground, and told us we should take him seriously," Deputy Chief Chris Covelli told Patch.

After getting off the phone with Jackson, deputies contacted the Lake County State's Attorney's Office to review the incident. Prosecutors drew up a warrant for his arrest on one count of threatening a public official, a class 3 felony, and a judge approved it the same day.

"Our office approved charges after listening to the evidence," State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement. "It is never, ever justified to threaten a public official under any circumstances."

Jackson was arrested Thursday in Logan County, Arkansas, and held at Logan County Jail pending extradition hearings.

Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said in a statement his office takes the safety of judges seriously and promised to investigate death threats against anyone to the fullest extent.

“Threatening the life of someone you are upset with, let alone a sitting judge, is inexcusable," Idelburg said.

Jackson, formerly of Antioch, purchased a home in Arkansas in June 2018, shortly after a Lake County judge found him in contempt and ordered him to pay the money he owed.

According to court records, Jackson has a monthly income of nearly $5,245 from retirement and disability benefits, while a court order requires him to pay about $1,168 per month in child support. He also failed to provide health insurance and life insurance as ordered by the court.

In November 2018, he came in last place among four candidates for Illinois governor with 2.4 percent of the vote. When asked about the contempt ruling during the campaign, Jackson told Patch his constitutional rights had been bypassed in family court.

Related: Libertarian Candidate Currently In Contempt Of Court Spotlighted

In a court order filed last month, Judge Janelle Christensen said she "twice witnessed Jackson become unhinged in the courtroom," and that a guardian ad litem representing the interests of his children found his children are afraid of him.

"The children both expressed a strong desire not to have a relationship with their father," the judge said. "Jackson lacks insight into the role he plays. He places one hundred percent of the fault on [his ex-wife]. He cannot see that his own actions have greatly and negatively impacted his children."

Covelli said a Lake County grand jury is considering approval of an additional felony count against Jackson stemming from the threat to the second judge during the same telephone call.

Jackson's Des Plaines-based attorney in the case, Edwin Bush, is currently facing a disciplinary complaint before the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Illinois Supreme Court.

In addition to allegations of eavesdropping in his own custody battle, he is accused of making false and prejudicial conduct to the judge, telling her, "my client with not put up with this self-serving abusive crap any more, and neither will I," while refusing to show up to court in Jackson’s case, according to the ARDC complaint.