A former Orange County resident who allegedly threatened to kill a sitting judge was charged by federal authorities, according to court documents obtained Friday.
Byrom Zuniga Sanchez, 32, formerly of Laguna Niguel, is facing a felony charge of threat by interstate/foreign communication, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Los Angeles federal court.
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Zuniga is a fugitive who is thought to be in Mexico, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint.
Since May 16, Zuniga has sent communications threatening to kill an Orange County Superior Court judge who presided over a family court matter involving the defendant from 2019 to 2021, FBI Special Agent Tyler Call wrote in the document.
Additionally, Zuniga has allegedly threatened to kill or harm others, including judges, attorneys and law enforcement, the FBI agent wrote.
In July, Zuniga allegedly sent a threatening email message to the Orange County judge which said, "I am more committed to murdering you than I am to being present as a father" and "Do you have any last words, apologies, or regrets you want to communicate before I lawfully kill you," the affidavit states.
Email messages from Zuniga also allegedly threatened to harm other judges, attorneys, and police officers. For example, the email sent in July also warned, "The remainder of my life will be dedicated to assassinating judges, attorneys, and a police station's entire shift staff," according to Call.
Zuniga is the subject of multiple domestic violence protective orders, pending arrest warrants and a workplace violence order, the affidavit states. He has multiple warrants in Orange County for state criminal offenses, including evading police/reckless driving, invasion of privacy, violation of a court order, and criminal threats, Call wrote.
In posts made on his Instagram account, Zuniga indicated he was in Morella, Mexico, according to the affidavit, which also said Zuniga lacks legal status in the United States and is subject to deportation.
Reports show that in May 2022, Zuniga led Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies on a chase after they were called to a home where he was allegedly violating a domestic violence court order. Deputies cornered Zuniga at a business location, where after negotiations lasting several hours, he ultimately surrendered, and was arrested, Call wrote in the affidavit.
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