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Background: Racine County Court in Racine, Wis. (Google Maps). Inset: Richard Paul (Racine County Sheriff”s Office).
Richard Paul, aged 68, was detained at Racine County Jail for failing to update his sex offender registration. According to a criminal complaint cited by Fox affiliate WITI, Paul allegedly threatened to kill the judge who mandated his continued detention. This incident reportedly unfolded after a correctional officer informed him he could not access printouts related to his past court cases.
The complaint details how, on March 25, Paul expressed his frustration to the officer, citing an “indifference” with the judge who insisted he remain jailed until his trial. His agitation reportedly escalated as he told the officer, “I’m about to just get totally belligerent.”
Further, the complaint states that Paul directed vulgar language toward the judge, referring to her in derogatory terms. WITI’s report highlights Paul’s extensive criminal history, noting that he has been incarcerated almost annually since 1980. Paul purportedly dismissed any potential repercussions by telling the officer, “there ain’t nothing that you can threaten me with that I ain’t been through already.”
According to the complaint, Paul told the officer that he “done told the b— to go f— herself.” WITI reported that Paul, a convicted sex offender, has been incarcerated almost every year since 1980. Paul reportedly told the officer that “there ain’t nothing that you can threaten me with that I ain’t been through already.”
The officer told Paul that instead of printouts, he could view his case information on a tablet. This accommodation did not seem to appease Paul, who told the officer, “That’s telling me then I might as well go in and pick up a homicide. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Paul’s alleged rhetoric against the judge continued and escalated. According to the complaint, Paul said that when he went to the Racine County Circuit Court for his scheduled appearance on March 31, “I’m gunning down. And y’all going to be picking up a body out that f—ing courtroom.”
The comments by Paul were captured by the correctional officer’s body camera.
Police charged Paul with making a threat to cause bodily harm to certain individuals involved with a court or legal system. He remains in custody at the Racine County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court in connection with the threat charge on Monday.