Paducah man to face prison time for threatening judge

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Paducah man is scheduled to be sentenced to prison time for threatening a McCracken County district judge, officials say.

The office of Attorney General Russell Coleman says on Monday, 36-year-old David Cox pleaded guilty to one count of intimidating a participant in the legal process and one count of menacing in exchange for a two-year prison sentence.

According to the attorney general’s office, in August 2025, Cox “threatened a judge who he believed would preside over a misdemeanor charge he faced.”

According to court documents, Cox also “acted in a way that put the judge in ‘apprehension of imminent physical injury from the defendant.'”

“Justice is done when we rely on the rule of law, not threats,” Coleman said. “Our office takes threats against prosecutors, judges and anyone in the legal system extremely seriously.”

As part of the plea deal, officials say Cox has been ordered to have no contact with the judge, not be within 500 feet of the McCracken County Courthouse unless he is required to be there and under no circumstance be in or near the parking lot used by judges and prosecutors. Cox will also receive mental health and substance abuse assessments.

Cox will be sentenced April 27 at 2:30 p.m.