Woman arrested after making threats to Jefferson County Courthouse employee

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield woman was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats after threatening to kill an employee at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Erika Jo King, 31, was arrested on Aug. 31 in Oskaloosa after the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office was informed that King had allegedly made threats to an employee at the Jefferson County Courthouse, and that she was on her way to Fairfield.

Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding said that King was attempting to obtain confidential Juvenile Court records from an employee of the Jefferson County Clerk of Court over the phone, but she was seeking information that could only be shared in person after verifying the identity of the requester. King, who was calling from Mahaska County at the time, threatened to kill the employee multiple times, and said that she planned to come to the Jefferson County Courthouse and “shoot up” the place, according to the police report.

Moulding said that King also called the Wapello County Courthouse and informed employees there that she planned to come to Fairfield to carry out this plan. After learning of the allegedly threat, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office secured the Jefferson County Courthouse and remained on scene for the rest of the day until the employees left.

King was charged with first-degree harassment and making terroristic threats. Moulding said King was charged with terroristic threats because the nature of her threat was directed at a government official for the purpose of coercing action or inaction.

After King’s arrest, she was given a no-contact order regarding the employee she had allegedly threatened over the phone. She was initially appointed Larry Brock as an attorney, though he stepped down and was replaced by Eric Tindal.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com