Thursday, July 22, 1999
Judge allegedly bomb target
Man in jail, accused of menacing
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FALMOUTH — A Falmouth man who allegedly planned to blow up the Pendleton County courthouse and kill a judge remained in jail Wednesday with more charges pending, while county officials plan to discuss courthouse security.
Daniel Justice, 33, is charged with terroristic threatening and wanton endangerment, and is in the county jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bond.
Officials released his wife, Debbie Justice, late Tuesday. She had been arrested earlier that day when she drove up to the couple's house during a search. Two pipe bombs were found inside the vehicle in a duffel bag.
“She gave a very cooperative statement in reference to the charges and pending charges,” said Pendleton County Constable Pete Samples.
The couple has two children, a boy and a girl. Their ages were not available, and authorities did not say where they were. It could not be determined whether the children were at home Tuesday when the house on Ky. 330 several miles west of Falmouth was searched.
Officials declined to say whether any other individuals were under investigation in the case. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is awaiting an analysis of evidence from the pipe bombs before pressing further charges.
Pendleton County Judge-executive Henry W. Bertram said fiscal court will meet today in regular session and will discuss courthouse security. At present, the only court security is a bailiff.
“It was mentioned to me right after I took office (in January) that I ought to take a look at that (security),” he said. “I just wonder if this isn't the kind of incident where we need to wake up and see we can't keep that open atmosphere.”
An informant told Mr. Samples on Monday that Mr. Justice, who faced a court hearing for wanton endangerment for allegedly ramming the vehicle of another motorist, planned to attack the courthouse and kill Pendleton District Judge Da vid Melcher. Authorities arrested Mr. Justice on Monday night.
The informant said Mr. Justice also threatened to kill the witness against him.
The next day, the pipe bombs were found in his sports utility vehicle.
Mr. Samples and neighbors described Mr. Justice on Wednesday as a “survivalist” who was fond of guns and was often spotted on his property shooting at birds.
Until last week, he was employed by a local carpet store, but quit his job for unknown reasons. He refused a request for a jailhouse interview.
“He appears to be the kind of person who likes to take the law in his own hands,” Mr. Samples said. “He told his wife there was no way he would go to jail on the wanton endangerment charges.”
A neighbor on Ky. 330, Mike Keller, said Mr. Justice told him that he planned to use the pipe bombs to fish in the Licking River. “He said they (the bombs) would bring the fish to the surface,” Mr. Keller said. “He didn't say anything about killing anybody.”
Mr. Justice will appear in Pendleton District Court at 1 p.m. today on the original wanton endangerment charge.
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