Internet Law

Veteran Convicted of Threatening Judge on YouTube Now in Trouble over Tweets

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An Iraq war veteran convicted last year in Tennessee for threatening a judge in a YouTube video is back in trouble over his Twitter comments.

Franklin Delano “Dale” Jeffries II, a former Army sergeant, was arrested this week based on accusations that he posted “suicidal/homicidal” tweets, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

Mental health specialist Kathryn Callaway said in federal court documents that Jeffries tested positive for cocaine use and refused to take his medications, the story says. He denied to her that he was suicidal or homicidal.

Jeffries was sentenced to 18 months in jail for threatening a judge in the online singing rant about visitation rights. He served most of the time before trial, and he was freed in November. Now he is in custody pending an April hearing to revoke his probation. A federal appeal of his conviction is pending.

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