A former judge who was convicted of a felony was detained and prosecuted after threatening to burn down a voting booth in upstate New York on Election Day, authorities said.
On Tuesday morning, Paul Lamson was charged with making a terroristic threat following a failed vote attempt that turned threatening.
The event occurred shortly after 6.30 a.m. in Fowler, New York, where Lamson, a convicted felon, attempted to vote but was unable to do so because he had not re-registered after being released from jail, according to police.
Lamson received an affidavit ballot but was dissatisfied with it, according to authorities from the St Lawrence County Board of Elections.
An affidavit ballot is not tallied until an elections board determines whether the voter is eligible to vote; if so, the vote is counted.
“He became irate and started making threatening remarks such as burning the place down and returning with a firearm” before departing the scene, according to New York State Police. A search ensued, and state police apprehended Lamson without incident.
He is currently being held at the St Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bond, according to state police.
According to records, Lamson was sentenced in 2017 to two to six years in prison for third-degree bribery.
He was accused of seeking and accepting sexual favors from defendants in criminal cases that he presided over, according to WWNY.
The Independent has contacted New York State Police and the St Lawrence County Board of Elections for additional information.