A Missouri man, Michael Deblois, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for leaving racist and threatening voice messages to a Jackson County judge. Deblois, 44, was convicted in July on charges of harassment and tampering with a judicial officer, both motivated by discrimination.
The incident began when Deblois, who is white, left more than a dozen hateful voice messages for Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III, an African-American judge. In the calls, Deblois used racial slurs and made threats, expressing anger over what he saw as “reverse discrimination.”
His grievances included complaints about his housing situation, claiming that his home had been foreclosed due to government corruption and a fraudulent homeowners association.
The messages, which were left between March 25 and 26, were filled with profanity and racially charged language.
At one point, Deblois used the N-word and threatened Judge Garrett, saying, “Eye for an eye.” Despite the explicit nature of his threats, Deblois made no attempt to hide his identity, leaving his full name and phone number on the recordings.
One message stated, “Hey, do you know what reverse discrimination is because I want you to know how Black people can do whatever they want.” Deblois also demanded a court hearing to address his claims of corruption.
The threats caused Judge Garrett to file for a protective order, fearing for his safety and that of his family. During the investigation, it was revealed that Deblois had a prior conviction for violating an order of protection in Jackson County, for which he had been placed on three years probation.
His history of harassment, combined with his latest actions, led to the serious charges against him.
During the trial, more disturbing details emerged. Deblois had not only made racist remarks, but he also admitted to stalking courthouse staff for two weeks and even threatened to follow them home.
His actions were viewed as attempts to intimidate the legal system and disrupt the rule of law.
In response to Deblois’s sentencing, Judge Garrett stressed the importance of public trust in the judicial system. He warned that threats against public servants undermine the government’s ability to function properly.
“Without confidence in our system of government, our republic will fail and chaos will ensue,” Judge Garrett said. He emphasized that citizens should use legal channels to voice their concerns, not resort to threats or violence.
Garrett added, “Threats to public servants should not be tolerated, as they undermine and stifle government action.”
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Judge Garrett expressed disappointment that some citizens are choosing to bypass legal processes in favor of threatening officials. He called for people to approach grievances with civility and respect, rather than hostility and chaos.
Deblois now faces significant prison time for his actions, as well as potential fines of up to $10,000 for each charge. His sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences for those who attempt to threaten or intimidate public officials.