South Berwick man arrested in judge threat case

CONCORD - The Attorney Generals Office announced the arrest of South Berwick, Maine, on two class B felony counts of harm or threats to certain government officials, and one count of criminal threatening.
Christopher Butler, 36, is being held on preventative detention pending arraignment today in Merrimack County Superior Court.
Butler is alleged to have threatened bodily injury on a phone call to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center, against Judge Philip Cross, a member of the judiciary, for the purpose of influencing an action by Judge Cross, as part of his official duties on prospective ruling(s) and/or order(s) on a specific case.
Another count alleges Butler threatened bodily injury on a phone call to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Court Information Center, against Judge Cross with the purpose of retaliating against the judge for his order on the same case.
The criminal threatening count alleges Butler threatened bodily injury on a phone call to the same judge with a purpose to "terrorize any person."
Harm or threats to certain government officials is a class B felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison and a $4,000 fine. The criminal threatening complaint is Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in county jail.
The Public Integrity Unit of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and the Strafford County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation.