Transient Arrested Over Alleged Threats

A 47-year-old transient has been arrested on suspicion of making deadly threats against a Ventura County Superior Court judge, authorities said.

Charles Lee Harman, a former Ventura resident, was arrested in a courthouse hallway last week after authorities received a report Harman had made verbal threats against Judge Kevin J. McGee on June 21, authorities said Thursday.

Harman remained in custody Thursday on $20,000 bail.

The alleged threats were overhead by a court clerk, who reported the statements to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, authorities said.

“He was very angry,” Sheriff’s Department spokesman Capt. Keith Parks said. “Basically, the comment was if he loses his court case, he would kill the judge, innocent bystanders and then himself.”

Court records show Harman had been scheduled to appear June 25 in court on a theft charge, which was later dismissed.

Harman’s connection to McGee was not clear Thursday. But Parks said the defendant was scheduled to appear in family court, and McGee is one of three family court judges.

According to records, Harman has a history of domestic violence and was in family court eight months ago--before retired Judge Allan Steele--after a relative had sought a retraining order against Harman.

Harman pleaded no contest in July 1993 to a misdemeanor count of domestic violence against another relative, records show.

Harman was placed on three years’ probation and ordered to serve one month in County Jail. He was also ordered to attend anger-control counseling.

Court records show Harman violated the terms of that probation a year later. In October 1994 he was ordered to immediately attend 10 sessions of domestic violence counseling. His probation was continued and Judge Steven Hintz ordered Harman to serve an additional month in jail.

Court records show that Harman, whose last known residence was in midtown Ventura, has appeared before at least five different judges in recent years.