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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Muncie man has been charged with five counts of felony intimidation after threatening to “pick off” multiple Delaware County judges with firearms upon his release from jail.
Donald W. Guinn was formally charged Monday of Level 5 felony intimidation following comments he made during a mental health examination while incarcerated at the Delaware County Jail, according to Delaware County Prosecutor Eric M. Hoffman.
On May 11, Delaware Circuit Judge Kimberly Dowling ordered Dr. Bobby Hatfield, a psychologist at the Delaware County Jail, to conduct an evaluation of Guinn in preparation for the defense of Guinn’s case.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Hatfield occasionally evaluates individuals in connection with their criminal cases for the Delaware County Courts.
Hatfield told law enforcement that while he was evaluating Guinn on May 24, a standard line of questioning was used regarding the charges and consequences of Guinn’s crimes. When asked if he could explain why those crimes were wrong, Guinn allegedly told Hatfield that, “Every day, I am like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, everyday is something new with murder and torture.”
In response to Hatfield’s request for Guinn to explain, Guinn allegedly said “… I’ll get a high-powered rifle and pick off all the F—ing judges as they come in one by one. … If they let me out, I’ll get my hands on some weapons, I might go after Judge Dowling.”
Guinn continued by saying that if he is released he would “kill cops” and that “suicide by cop is how I’ll go,” according to the affidavit.
Hatfield subsequently reported Guinn’s remarks due to their specific, threatening nature, according to the affidavit.
“Donald Guinn communicated a threat with intent that the other person(s) in fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act and the subject of whom the threat is communicated is/are a Judicial officer (s) of the Delaware County Circuit Courts,” the affidavit reads.
Guinn’s felony charges represent threats made against Dowling, as well as Delaware Circuit Court Judges Marianne Vorhees, Linda Ralu Wolf, John M. Feick and Thomas A. Cannon Jr.
Lt. Dave Brown, head of security at the Delaware County Justice Center, was unavailable for comment by Indiana Lawyer deadline.
Guinn is currently being held on $25,000 cash-only bail, according to the prosecutor’s office. His charges could each result in one to six years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
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