• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Defendant threatens to kill judge, defense attorney, and sexually assault prosecutor

Joshua Puma is facing federal charges for his actions

Joshua Puma

Joshua Puma (Undated booking photo via Law&Crime)

May 27, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

BURLINGTON, Vt. – A criminal defendant in Vermont is facing federal charges after he reportedly threatened to kill a state court judge, a defense attorney, and sexually assault a state prosecutor.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont issued a press statement which says, “Josh Puma, 35, formerly of Chittenden County, was arraigned today in Burlington before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce to injure the person of another.”

“Puma pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Puma detained pending trial,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

According to prosecutors, “Puma called a Vermont Department of Corrections reporting line and threatened to kill a state court judge, a defense attorney, and a state prosecutor and to sexually assault that same prosecutor.  The calls were recorded, and Puma specifically stated that when he is released from jail, he will use violence and kill and maim those state officials, in addition to harming and killing other members of the legal community.”

The feds said Puma was recently hospitalized by order of the state court due to mental health considerations.

Puma was incarcerated on apparently unrelated charges when he issued the threats, federal prosecutors said.

Because of the calls, Puma was charged with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce to injure the person of another, Law&Crime reported.

A three-page indictment says Puma made the threats to kill the judge and the defense attorney “[o]n or about” Sept. 30, 2021. He is said to have again threatened to kill a judge on Oct. 26, 2021, and on that date added the sexual assault threat regarding the prosecutor. He again threatened to kill a judge on Nov. 30, 2021, according to the indictment.

Hence, prosecutors asked the judge to keep Puma locked up while the trial is pending.

“This defendant is eligible for detention because the charged offense is a crime of violence,” they wrote.

Accordingly, the magistrate responded there was “clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.”

Furthermore, the magistrate said the “[w]eight of evidence against the defendant is strong,” cited the defendant’s “[p]rior criminal history,” and noted a history of “alcohol or substance abuse” as grounds for keeping the defendant in custody.

According to Law&Crime, Puma was previously alleged to have been involved with the heroin trade out of a South Burlington condominium in a 2013 case.

Puma is being held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield and has been locked up since March 10, 2022, according to a Vermont jail inmate roster.

He has a maximum exposure of up to 5 years imprisonment on each count related to the telephone threats, if convicted.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: BurlingtonJoshua PumaJudge Kevin J. Doylevermont
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Border Patrol desperate

Border Patrol desperate for help to stop nearly 850% surge of migrants sneaking in from Canada

February 21, 2023
John Griffin

Former CNN producer pleads guilty to child sex charge

December 13, 2022
Vermont deputy

Vermont deputy shot by police in upstate New York following exchange of gunfire with another man

November 21, 2022
Vernon Forest Wilson

North Carolina police use severed finger to identify armed home intruder

October 11, 2022
John Grismore

Captain fired after video shows him kicking handcuffed arrestee in the groin

August 27, 2022
Peter Newton

Vermont sheriff refuses to resign after he is criminally charged with sexual assault

July 5, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

Marines battered

Marines battered by unruly mob at California beach

May 30, 2023
Amanda Hicks

Crying baby leads police to discover murder-suicide scene

May 30, 2023
Christopher Taylor

Mistrial declared in murder trial of Austin police officer

May 30, 2023
melee

Melee, stabbing, and shots fired at Washburn HS Somali culture night

May 30, 2023
Gregory Rodriguez

Correctional officer faces 300 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting 13 female inmates

May 29, 2023
Ohio Parole Board

Ohio Parole Board Releases Convicted Killers Despite Dangers to (and Pleas from) the Public

May 29, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com