Former Mass. Sheriff’s deputy indicted for threatening to burn down courthouse, kill officers
BOSTON (WLNE) — A federal grand jury in Boston indicted a former Middlesex County Sheriff’s deputy today for allegedly threatening to burn down a courthouse and threatening the lives of officers.
According to the indictment, Joshua Ford, 42, of Kingston, Mass., was charged with three counts of interstate transmission of threatening communication. He is currently in state custody and will appear in U.S. District court in Boston at a later date.
Authorities said that Ford served as a deputy for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office between about 2009 and 2017. It is alleged that on March 13, of this year, Ford sent emails to roughly 140 people, almost all of which were Massachusetts law enforcement officers.
Officials said each email contained the same message, which reads in part, “[there] is no more justice system anymore just WAR — I am calling on all able bodied officers my brothers in blue to suit up for a fight.”
The indictment further alleges that Ford asked those officers to arm themselves with guns and armored cars, saying, “Tomorrow we burn down the Plymouth County Court house to the ground.”
Charging documents continue to allege that the emails included a link to a video that Ford posted on YouTube, titled, “War Has Been Declared [expletive] ’em All.”
Prosecutors said the video is an 11-minute long recording of Ford where he makes statements about specific officers, a judge and attorneys, making references to doing harm on them and places of employment.
According to the Department of Corrections, the charges of interstate transmission of a threatening communication each provide a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
