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CASH ONLY-BOND IN THREAT AGAINST PINE BLUFF JUDGE

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, November 5, 2009 12:20 AM CST

A Pine Bluff man who allegedly threatened a Pine Bluff district judge during court Monday will have to post a $50,000 cash-only bond to be released from the county detention center while prosecutors prepare felony charges against him.

During a court hearing Wednesday, Circuit Judge Berlin Jones set the bond after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Wendell Pittman, 55, with terroristic threatening, based on an affidavit from police Detective Shawn Davis.

Reading from that affidavit, Deputy Prosecutor Rik Ramsey said Pittman was appearing before Division 2 District Court Judge John Kearney when he asked to approach the bench, handed Kearney a stack of papers, and asked Kearney to read them.

Ramsey said the papers indicated Pittman had a prior grudge against Kearney, and contained threats which caused Kearney “to fear for his life.”

Davis reported the papers claimed Pittman “knew how to kill someone and get away with it,” Ramsey quoted the affidavit as saying.

In addition to setting the bond, Jones ordered Pittman to have no contact with Kearney, except as necessary for court, until the case is settled.

Also Wednesday, a $5,000 bond was set for Robert McNutt, 28, after Jones ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge him with terroristic threatening and breaking or entering.

Reading from an affidavit from Detective Mike Sweeney, Ramsey said police were sent to the Salvation Army Thrift Store at 2901 S. Catalpa St., just after 3:30 p.m. Monday where an employee, Amanda Blevins, reported finding what was described as a “graphic note” on the key pad of her computer.

Ramsey said when Blevins activated the computer, “there were other presentations and video similar to the message in the note.”

Sweeney reported that another employee said McNutt had been the only person to go into Blevins’ office during the five to seven minutes she had been gone, and a supervisor said the handwriting on the note “appeared to be the same as McNutt’s.”

Ramsey said the breaking or entering allegation was because McNutt entered an office that he had not been authorized to enter.

In addition to setting the bond, Jones ordered McNutt, who Ramsey said had no prior convictions, to have no contact with Blevins until the case is settled.

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