Writer Accused of Making Threat to Kill Judge

An aspiring screenwriter has been arrested on charges that he threatened to kill a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who ruled against him in a civil lawsuit, authorities said Saturday.

James Edward Hetherington, 38, allegedly threatened Judge Dzintra Janavs in a letter that described how he sat in her courtroom last week with a “loaded .22 pistol.”

Hetherington, who is described by investigators as a writer and part-time taxi driver, was arrested Friday at his home at the Oakwood Apartment complex on 2nd Street west of downtown.

The letter, signed by Hetherington, claims that he was in the judge’s courtroom May 6 and that the judge and a court officer made “a tactical mistake . . . that could have cost you your life.” It went on to say that Hetherington spared the judge’s life, but that he would not do so again.

The letter added that the judge had one last chance to “straighten the mess out,” apparently referring to the lawsuit brought by Hetherington against Harry Standfuss and his company, International Talent Agency. No details were available on the substance of the suit, except that Janavs awarded a judgment in favor of Standfuss, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Kathryn Nielsen.

Although Hetherington appeared before the judge two weeks ago, investigators were unable to confirm that he was in her courtroom May 6, as the letter claimed, Nielsen said. Hetherington was not listed on the judge’s court docket for that day, she said.

Judge Janavs told investigators she received the letter May 10 and notified authorities the same day.

Hetherington was booked into County Jail on suspicion of threatening a judge, a violation that carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 and one year in jail. Bail has been set at $100,000.

The district attorney’s office is expected to file formal charges against Hetherington Monday and he could be arraigned by Tuesday, Nielsen said.