Home Gardens man to stand trial in threat case

DANVILLE — A 56-year-old central Illinois man has pleaded not guilty after prosecutors in Vermilion County accused him of threatening to shoot a judge over the Memorial Day weekend.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports that Vermilion County Circuit Judge Michael Clary on Thursday found probable cause to try Jon Hill of Home Gardens on one count of threatening a public official.

Hill entered his plea Thursday after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutors contend Hill called Vermilion County Circuit Judge Craig DeArmond at home on May 27 and left a threatening message on his answering machine.

At an earlier hearing, Hill said he made the call while drunk and not taking his medication for seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.