Brian Tucker (Boone County Jail).
A Kentucky man is behind bars after threatening to kill a local judge and prosecutor, authorities in the Bluegrass State say.
Brian Tucker, 48, stands accused of retaliating against participants in a legal process, according to Boone County court records.
The arrest occurred on Nov. 27. The criminal case stems from a long-ago fire at the home of one of the defendant’s friends. The knock-on effects of that blaze have plagued Tucker’s life for several years.
In 2016, the fire destroyed the home in question, according to court records obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer — which serves as the daily paper for much of the northern Kentucky region.
In 2018, Tucker was indicted on counts of complicity to commit arson and insurance fraud. The man, however, was innocent — a jury of his peers acquitted Tucker of all the charges against him in 2019.
Then came a lawsuit.
After being vindicated by the criminal justice system, Tucker looked for relief in civil law. He sued Kentucky Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Green Light Fire Investigations — alleging the companies provided false evidence to law enforcement that led to his indictment.
In July of this year, a judge dismissed Tucker’s civil lawsuit with prejudice, according to court records cited by the newspaper.
Recently, one of Tucker’s friends reached out to police.
When making that tip, the friend allegedly said the defendant had been threatening to violently kill both 16th Judicial District Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and a female judge.
“[He] specified the gym where Sanders works out and articulated plans to either sneak up behind Sanders and slit his throat or hide in the woods and ‘snipe’ Sanders with a rifle,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
Sanders himself spoke with investigators, said he knew Tucker, and that he and Tucker go to the same gym, police say.
The jurist was later identified as Kenton County Circuit Judge Kathy Lape by the prosecutor, according to the complaint. Sanders allegedly told police that she oversaw Tucker’s criminal trial. The Enquirer, on the other hand, said Kenton County Chief Circuit Judge Patricia Summe oversaw both Tucker’s criminal trial and civil case.
Interviews with the defendant’s loved ones followed — and authorities did not seem to like what they heard.
Tucker’s brother and girlfriend both allegedly gave some version of a story where he had recently been acting out of sorts.
The defendant’s girlfriend allegedly said he had not been home for days. Tucker’s brother allegedly said he was “suffering from a mental break and going through violent mood swings,” according to the complaint.
The defendant’s brother also advised caution for investigators, allegedly telling them to be careful because he hates law enforcement and has violent tendencies, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by Newport, Kentucky-based Fox affiliate WXIX.
In the end, the friend said they decided to report Tucker to law enforcement because they had also become subject to the threats. The friend allegedly attributed the diffusion of blame to Tucker consuming large amounts of cocaine.
Tucker is currently being detained in the Boone County Jail on $500,000 cash bond.
The defendant does not currently have an attorney of record or a scheduled court appearance, Boone County records show.
