TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — A man has been arrested after officials say he made multiple phone calls and sent an email threatening Travis County Judges Julie Kocurek and David Wahlberg in July.
According to court records, the Travis County Sheriff's Office Courthouse Security Unit filed a report stating that on July 13, the 167th District Court of Travis County had received several threatening phone call voice messages and an email that specifically named the two judges.
Officials reviewed the voice messages on the direct lines of the 167th (Wahlberg's) and 390th (Kocurek's) District Courts and determined they were left by suspect Diedrich Joseph Holgate, 40.
RELATED:
The following are examples of excerpts from the messages dated July 14, which officials noted in an arrest affidavit:
- "Still got the right to kill you ... Ah, my god, Kocurek ... I'm going to give you a couple more chances ... a couple more."
- "I have the right to [expletive] kill you. You understand that? ... But we will see if we can resolve it. I don't think we can, I think we are just going to hang your [expletive]."
- "No more than an eye for an eye. No more than a tooth for a tooth."
- "You're done. You're done and I'm coming for you."
- "Understand, I have not nor will I threaten to take the law into my hand hand. When you hang, when Wahlberg hangs, the rest of you it will be done legally. Taking personal revenge is beneath me as it should have been for you ... I hate sounding stupid, but you still damn near close to family."
Officials also provided excerpts from an email from diedrichholgate@gmail.com sent to court administration on July 16:
- "They can both do ten or let one hang for treason."
- "I do have the right to kill you."
- "A right is not the same as exercising it or even wanting to do so."
- "Welcome to the narrative that's going to kick your [expletive]!"
The affidavit states throughout the messages, the suspect kept referring to how he was treated by the judges. Judge Kocurek provided over a case regarding Holgate committed on June 5, 2012, in which he received a two-year sentence. Officials say he committed a subsequent offense of retaliation on a public servant once he was released. Judge Wahlberg presided over the retaliation offense and sentenced him to another two years. Holgate was released from prison on June 6, 2018.
In a separate case, Judge Kocurek was shot in front of her home on Nov. 6, 2015, by another man whose case was in her court. Chimene Onyeri was found guilty of attempted capital murder earlier this year.
Holgate was charged with retaliation, a third-degree felony.