Lexington man gets prison time for email threats to a Kentucky prosecutor
A Lexington man was sentenced Tuesday for a federal charge related to threatening Jackie Steele, a local commonwealth’s attorney, according to the Department of Justice.
Christopher Rhodes, 41, was sentenced to or three and a half years in prison for a charge of interstate communication of a threat when he sent an email to Steele that a reasonable person could interpret as a threat, federal officials say.
Rhodes entered a guilty plea Sept. 24. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, according to court documents.
Steele is the commonwealth’s attorney for Laurel and Knox counties. He has served the 27th Judicial Circuit since 2008.
Rhodes’ initial email, sent in May, told Steele his home needed curtains and referenced Steele’s wife being “in bed” and Steele’s children “roaming around,” according to the plea agreement.
Court documents said the language in the email implied Steele should be scared for himself and his family.
This message was sent as part of a series of emails over a course of weeks that expressed anger with Steele and his service as the commonwealth’s attorney.
