Man accused of threatening Spokane judge

A Missoula man is accused of threatening to kill a Spokane judge with the state Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.

Brian G. Corntassel, 49, appeared in Superior Court Monday on one felony charge of intimidating a judge for threats allegedly made to Judge John D. Fairley.

Fairley oversaw the appeal of four claims that Corntassell had filed with the state Department of Labor and Industries.

A staff member with Gov. Christine Gregoire’s office said in December Corntassell had told her in a phone call that “he was going to put a bullet in the head of a judge,” according to court documents.

On Jan. 4, Corntassel reportedly told another state employee that Fairley was crooked and he wanted to shoot him, then pin a complaint letter to his chest, according to court documents.

Corntassel apologized to an investigators and said his threats weren’t serious, police said. He was booked into jail Friday on a $50,000 warrant after being arrested in Montana.