Washington State's Attorney General Bob Ferguson has thrown the book at a Clarkston man, slapping him with serious charges of judge intimidation and multiple counts of harassment against local officials. Trevor Lunney, the man facing these accusations, could find himself behind bars for a lengthy stint — up to a decade for the judge intimidation charge alone — if convicted.
Detailed in the charges, Lunney allegedly crafted a disturbing plot to unleash harm upon those who'd crossed him. After his detention in Asotin County jail on separate charges, including a threat to bomb and two harassment counts, his venomous plans only seemed to take a more nefarious turn. The AG's office clarifies that these charges are mere allegations at this point, stressing the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
The accusations paint a picture of a man obsessed with violent retribution. As per a letter to the court from inmate Tim Redmond, Lunney not only harbored deadly intentions against Asotin County Superior Court Judge Brooke Burns but extended his malevolent designs to a city councilor, a county prosecutor, and even the judge's dog, Motley. "A unique courthouse invasion to commit some of these murders" was among the alarming threats Redmond relayed, as revealed by the Attorney General's Office.
The unsettling strategy didn't end at tracking targets to their homes. Lunney's twisted plans allegedly touched on the potential use of fentanyl as a weapon, with thoughts of inflicting poison via sabotaged food deliveries. "Defendant told him he planned to solicit fentanyl-addicted females to do part of his dirty work," read the statement shared during the investigation led by Asotin County Sheriff's Office Detective Jackie Nichols.
Among the threats, Curtis Liedkie, Asotin County Prosecutor, voiced his fear over Lunney's threats which included "escalation in intensity and scope." Judge Brooke Burns reacted with caution, going as far as to place Lunney's photo on her fridge as a safety measure. Councilor Hannah Liedkie and corrections officer Duane Thompson were also engulfed in Lunney's sphere of hostile intimidation, leading to an elevated state of vigilance for all involved.
The complexity of Lunney's purported scheme necessitated the transfer of the case to an Adams County judge, free from the conflict of interest in Asotin County. Assistant Attorney General James Atchley, tasked with the prosecution, will navigate the intricacies of the case while the Attorney General's Office remains bound to the understated public commentary allowed before trial, committed to maintaining transparency and the integrity of their prosecutorial duties.
