Man from Naches arrested for death threat against judge

Yakima County, Washington — A man from Naches was arrested for threatening to kill a public official.

Joseph Clark Strmiska, 61, was charged with harassment of a criminal justice participant after posting comments on YouTube saying he would kill Yakima Judge Richard Bartheld as well as any police officers sent to arrest him.

According to court documents, Strmiska was free on $20,000 bail at the time of the threats, awaiting trial on charges that he threatened a sheriff's evidence technician after picking up a gun that police confiscated after he repeatedly threatened 911 operators in 2023.

In this latest incident, Google notified federal agents of comments, and the FBI then notified the sheriff's office. Between August 25 and September 15, Strmiska posted comments declaring – quote – that he would “hunt down and kill tyrannical cops and judges” and complaining that an unnamed judge had overridden his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

So far, Strmiska's bail in this new case has been set at $500,000, and any additional bail he has would be added to that.