Connecticut man gets 18 months for threatening to kill federal judge, others

CONCORD - A Connecticut man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for threatening to kill a federal judge, a federal prosecutor, and other individuals, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced on Tuesday.

Devin James Melycher, 30, of Danbury, Conn., 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 court documents and statements made in court, between May and September 2022, 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, in the District of Maine, for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

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

"Threatening to kill federal officials is a serious crime, not protected speech," said U.S. 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."

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, with assistance by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office in Portland, Maine. It is being prosecuted by United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire, by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cam T. Le and Matthew T. Hunter, acting under federal statute.