Man accused of making threats

BENTON COUNTY -- A Bella Vista man was being held in the Benton County Jail on a $250,000 bond in connection with making a threat to a circuit judge.

Ricky Witcher, 54, was arrested Friday in connection with terroristic threatening in the first degree, a Class D felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging up to six years.

Will Tucker, a bailiff for Circuit Judge John Scott, reported Jan. 10 that Scott had been threatened, according to court documents. Tucker told Tim Srader, a Benton County Sheriff's Office detective, he could contact David Cook, a process server, for details about the incident.

Cook served court papers at Witcher's job in Bella Vista, according to court documents. The court papers were in connection with legal matters in a divorce case.

Cook said Witcher became angry with the legal system, according to the affidavit.

Witcher was shaking and pacing around the parking lot stating how he hated Scott and if he had a gun he would put a bullet in Scott's head and kill him, Cook said according to court documents. Witcher repeated the statement several times, according to the affidavit.

Cook reported Witcher attempted to talk him into switching the date on court documents so they would read Jan. 9 instead of Jan. 10. Cook refused to alter the paperwork, according to the affidavit.

Witcher then told Cook he was not going back to Scott's courtroom and planned to leave the state, according to the affidavit. Cook said Witcher again stated Scott and two other people needed to be killed, according to the affidavit.

Witcher's arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 18 in Circuit Judge Robin Green's court.