A 54-year-old Palm Bay man is being held in the Brevard County Jail after sending threatening emails to Judge Katie Jacobus, according to court records and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Michael Christopher Barnard was charged with corruption by threat against a public servant and unlawful use of a two-way communications device following two emails sent to Jacobus in August. The emails, obtained by investigators, included explicit threats against the judge’s career and references to a temporary injunction issued against Barnard in a separate case.
Sheriff Ivey confirmed in a Facebook post that Barnard used a fake email address to contact Jacobus, accusing her of making 'several poor decisions' and warning her that he would 'come for her.' One message directed the judge to 'dismiss your temp order' and 'push for clarity in my other case.' Investigators say Barnard also threatened to harm Jacobus’s career if she did not drop a criminal proceeding against him. The judge, who has not commented publicly on the case, is reportedly the respondent in a recent temporary injunction against Barnard linked to prior threats.
Barnard’s arrest comes after investigators discovered he had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation tied to four counts of written or electronic threats to kill. The warrant dates back to 2024, when Barnard was accused of sending similar threats to multiple individuals. Sheriff Ivey said the department is working to determine whether Barnard’s current charges are connected to the earlier threats.
Court records show Barnard’s initial frustration stemmed from a restraining order issued against him in a separate case. The judge’s office declined to comment on the specifics of the injunction, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Barnard is being held without bail and is expected to appear in court next week. His attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment.