KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Independence man is accused of threatening and leaving racist messages on voicemail directed at a Jackson County judge.
Michael A. Deblois, 42, has been charged Tuesday with one count of tampering with a judicial officer and one count of first-degree harassment.
On Wednesday, the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office announced the charges against Deblois had been enhanced.
Deblois is now charged with one count of tampering with a judicial officer and one count of harassment motivated by discrimination to frighten or disturb another person.
According to court documents, Deblois began leaving the messages on Monday.
In the voicemails, which were transcribed in court documents, Deblois appears to be upset about not being granted a court hearing.
Deblois appears to want a court hearing related to his home being foreclosed.
In the voicemail, which is loaded with racial slurs, Deblois admits to stalking the courthouse and even following people home.
"I’m not doing anything to a single member of your f****** staff that you didn’t do to me first," Deblois said in the voicemail. "Eye for an Eye, makes you wonder what I do have planned.”
In total, Deblois left about 14 to 15 voicemails over a 24-hour period.
"No member of the public should be allowed to threaten a public official in the course of doing their duties," Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker said. "But today most public officials experience threats to their safety, simply for doing a job for the public. While this type of anger is not a new phenomenon in our culture, it cannot be tolerated. This hate-filled speech is not protected speech. It is a crime. It will not be tolerated when it is directed at a judge and the judge's staff who assist in this necessary work."
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