Ashland Man Arrested for Alleged Death Threats Against Municipal Court Judge

Joe Lyons • August 23, 2024

Nicholas Barnett

Ashland, OH — An Ashland man, Nicholas Barnett, has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged death threats made against Ashland Municipal Court Judge John L. Good. Barnett, 42, appeared before Magistrate Emily M. Bates in the Court of Common Pleas, Ashland County, on Thursday, August 22, 2024, for a bond hearing via video link.

Barnett faces a third-degree felony charge of Retaliation, as outlined in the Ohio Revised Code Sections 2921.05(A) and 2921.05(C). According to the complaint filed on August 22, Barnett is accused of threatening to kill Judge Good due to a previous sentencing decision. Barnett allegedly sent messages expressing his intent to harm the judge because he was sentenced to 50 days in jail for an OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) offense.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf, who represented the State of Ohio during the hearing, emphasized the severity of the charge and the strength of the evidence. “This is a textbook case of retaliation,” Metcalf stated. “Mr. Barnett’s reason for threatening Judge Good was purely because the judge performed his duties by sentencing him to jail. These threats were taken seriously, and rightly so.”

Barnett sent some messages along the lines of. “I’m going to kill him” When asked why he was going to kill the judge, he said. “Because He gave him 50 days”. Metcalf stated during the hearing.

In addition to the alleged threats, Barnett also attempted to send a Facebook friend request to Judge Good during the same period, raising further concerns about his intentions. The situation escalated to the point where the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office conducted a wellness check on Judge Good to ensure his safety.

Given the gravity of the charges, Magistrate Bates set a bond of $50,000, with the option for Barnett to secure it through a surety bond, real estate, securities, or a cash deposit. The bond restrictions include passive monitoring via GPS tracking, prohibiting Barnett from entering any exclusion zones and mandating his presence in designated inclusion zones. Barnett is also strictly prohibited from having any contact, direct or indirect, with Judge Good.

Barnett has a history of legal issues, particularly related to traffic violations and OVI charges, dating back to 2002. His most recent charge was for OVI 2nd/Refused in September 2023. Despite this, the Retaliation charge marks a significant escalation in the nature of his offenses.

Barnett is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. via video conference. The case will continue to be closely monitored as it progresses through the court system.

*** All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law***