Sentencing Delayed : A 2nd Threat on Judge Reported

A Van Nuys Superior Court judge postponed sentencing a Sepulveda man Tuesday to consider new allegations that he threatened to shoot a prosecutor and a San Fernando municipal judge.

A defendant in a burglary case told authorities that Michael Cartier, 37, threatened Judge Gregg Marcus and Deputy Dist. Atty. Norman F. Montrose in January, just weeks after Cartier was acquitted in a separate incident involving the same judge.

On Dec. 22, a jury found Cartier not guilty of threatening to kill Marcus. But the jury found him guilty of dissuading and intimidating a witness--his wife, Linda, who had told authorities in May that her husband had threatened to kill Marcus.

Linda Cartier later recanted her account of that alleged threat and failed to appear for her husband’s trial in Van Nuys Superior Court.

Psychiatric Evaluation

Burglary suspect Ronald Ray Burnette, 25, said Cartier made the latest threats on Jan. 12 while the two were locked in a holding facility at the Van Nuys courthouse waiting for their cases to be called. Cartier was to be sentenced that day on his Dec. 22 conviction, but the sentencing was delayed so that a psychiatric evaluation could be prepared.

According to Burnette, Cartier said that if he were sent to state prison, he would shoot Marcus in the spine “and break his back,” authorities said.

Investigators said Burnette also told them that Cartier threatened to shoot his wife and Montrose, who prosecuted Cartier.

In an interview with his probation officer, Cartier denied making the threats. And Cartier’s attorney, Michael J. Phelan, said he “can’t imagine” Cartier making such statements.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Richard G. Kolostian on Tuesday postponed Cartier’s sentencing until Feb. 17, when Burnette will be questioned in court about Cartier’s latest alleged threats.

Cartier is awaiting sentencing on charges stemming from a marital quarrel in which his wife fired five shots at her husband with a .357-magnum handgun, authorities said. Marcus sentenced Linda Cartier on May 28 to 45 days in jail and three years’ probation in the incident.

Cartier faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on his conviction of dissuading and intimidating a witness. He has been in custody since his arrest May 29.