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Man indicted for sending threatening letters to judges

By: Eric Heisig//July 23, 2014//

Man indicted for sending threatening letters to judges

By: Eric Heisig//July 23, 2014//

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Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor

A Dodge County inmate has been indicted for allegedly mailing threatening letters to a state and federal judge.

Robert Taylor, 49, is in the Waupan Correctional Center. He’s serving a 13-year prison sentence for beating his then-wife with a baseball bat, breaking several of her bones and requiring her to get 1,300 stitches. After that, he will serve a 21-month federal prison sentence for sending a threatening letter to his ex-wife. He also sent a letter to Kenosha County Circuit Jude Wilbur Warren III – who sentenced Taylor in 2003 – that said he would hurt his ex.

The federal grand jury’s recent indictment, though, stemmed from letters that he sent to Warren, Eastern District of Wisconsin Judge Charles Clevert – who handled his last threatening letter case – and his ex. He is charged with three counts of mailing threatening communication, a charge that carries a five-year maximum prison sentence.

An arraignment and plea hearing is set for Aug. 1 in front of Judge William Duffin.

Exactly what the most recent letters said is not yet known. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling, who is prosecuting the case, did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday.

However, Taylor was ordered by Clevert – when the judge sentenced him in 2012 for the previous case – to stay at least 100 miles away from his ex-wife. And court filings in that case show that Taylor sent a letter to Clevert requesting the judge reconsider his ruling, since his family is within that 100 miles. When the judge did not, Taylor sent a letter saying that “theres (sic) no restraining order of 100 miles or any other going to keep me away from getting ahold of my ex-wife …”

“So I’ll make sure I get ahold of her and make sure she’s dead this time …” the letter continues.

Taylor will be represented by Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee, but a representative said the case has not yet been assigned to an attorney.

State court records also show that Taylor’s original case also involved an attempted murder charge. Ultimately, though, he pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and arson, though attempted murder and a misdemeanor bail jumping charge were read in at sentencing.

A previous sentencing memorandum filed by his defense attorney in 2012 states that Taylor is mentally ill and needs treatment.

Taylor is currently set to be released from prison in 2018.

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