A New Jersey man charged with threatening Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele back in December 2008 was arraigned earlier today in Hartford Superior Court.
State police say John Stankus, 28, of Long Beach was charged with second-degree threatening and breach of peace. Stankus was extradited to Connecticut Wednesday by authorities and after a court appearance his bond was lowered from $250,000 to $75,000.
“I cannot comment on the details of an ongoing criminal investigation. However, I can say that in this day and age all threats must be taken seriously and acted upon accordingly,” Fedele said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Police said the emails, which also included a threat against Brazi’s Restaurant in New Haven, originated from a public library in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to this affidavit police interviewed Stankus’ mother who told them in January that her son suffers from mental illness, “but noted that her son has never been violent.”
Stankus’ father told police that his son often “connects things in his mind that have no tangible connections to one another.”
“John is obsessed with the government and branches of the government such as the Internal Revenue Service, Secret Service, as well as the mafia,” the affidavit states.
When Stankus was growing up their family often had receptions and family functions at Brazi’s Restaurant in New Haven, Stankus’ father told police.
“Mrs. Stankus stated that her son John felt that people in Connecticut are out to get him so, John left Connecticut several years ago,” the affidavit states. “Mrs. Stankus stated that both she and her husband want to find their son and get him medical help.”