Man accused of threatening 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 on Monday on one felony charge of intimidating a judge for threats allegedly made in December to Judge John D. Fairley.

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

A staff member with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office said in December that Corntassel 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 investigator and said his threats weren’t serious, police said.

Corntassel was booked into jail Friday on a $50,000 warrant after being arrested in Montana.