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January 23, 2021

Belmont Mayor Lance, feature, Wabash County

Wabash County Man Arrested For Threatening Public Official -

BY JOHN KRAFT & KIRK ALLEN

ON October 9, 2020

Wabash Co., IL. (ECWd) -

Wabash County Sheriff's Deputy Dylan Root arrested William E. Cook on charges of Threatening a Public Official, a Class 3 Felony in Illinois.

On October 8, 2020, Cook sent a message to Jon King, a Trustee in the Village of Bellmont, Illinois, which King took as a threat and later reported it.

The message read: "U need to just back off of the mayer u stupid ass libtard and if u try any bullshit one just keep in mind I do know where u live and I do have a grudge against u and ur parents"

Cook appeared in Court via Zoom this morning, and still in custody of the Wabash County Sheriff.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov 2, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

Bond was set at $5000 with 10% to apply.

Case number 2020-CF 43.

***We remind the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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1 Comment
  • Rory Steidl
    Posted at 19:53h, 10 October

    Though the defendant’s comments are not a verification of his intent, when one issues a threat, he must assume the target of said threat is likely to reasonably believe such threat is genuine. And, the defendant’s intent to carry out his threat need not be proven…only that he issued the threat. The defendant made a huge error in judgment/mistake issuing such a threat. Public officials must be free to execute the duties of their office without fear of reprisal/retaliation. Given what is before us, I say that Steve McGarrett would certainly utter his famous directive, “Book ’em, Danno!”

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1 Comment
  • Rory Steidl
    Posted at 19:53h, 10 October

    Though the defendant’s comments are not a verification of his intent, when one issues a threat, he must assume the target of said threat is likely to reasonably believe such threat is genuine. And, the defendant’s intent to carry out his threat need not be proven…only that he issued the threat. The defendant made a huge error in judgment/mistake issuing such a threat. Public officials must be free to execute the duties of their office without fear of reprisal/retaliation. Given what is before us, I say that Steve McGarrett would certainly utter his famous directive, “Book ’em, Danno!”