(WWJ) – An Oakland County man serving prison time for sexual assault is expected to have his sentence extended after pleading guilty to threatening his sentencing judge.
Christopher Shenberger of White Lake pleaded Friday to one count of attempted false report or threat of terrorism as a habitual fourth offender, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday.
Shenberger, 43, is currently incarcerated at the Carson City Correctional Facility. Back in 2016 an Ingham County Circuit Court judge sentenced him to 6-15 years in prison for two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
In December 2021 Shenberger sent a letter to the judge, threatening her life, according to the AG’s office. In the letter he complained about potentially being denied parole for not completing a required sex offender program while incarcerated, Nessel’s office said.
Shenberger wrote that were he required to serve his maximum sentence, he would put “everyone’s name on that docket” on a slip of paper and it will “go into a jar or whatever and who’s ever name [is picked] up will be killed plain and simple.”
Nessel said “revenge threats” against prosecutors and judges are “serious offenses.”
“No judge should be sacrificing their own safety when they fulfill their duties protecting the public,” she said in a press release.
Shenberger was charged in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, but as a Judge in that Court was the subject of the threat, visiting Judge John McBain of the Jackson County Circuit Court will preside over the case.
He will be sentenced on Dec. 13.