NORWICH – After a lengthy deliberation, Michael D. Richardson, 36, formerly of Bainbridge, was found guilty of making a terroristic threat – a class D felony – by a jury of his peers yesterday afternoon.

It was alleged that Richardson – in July of last year and with the intent to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion; or affect the conduct of a unit of government by murder, assassination or kidnapping – placed threatening remarks in two separate letters addressed to his estranged wife and mother-in-law conveying his intent to perform acts of violence directed at a number of individuals including a judge, who, though not specifically named, is alleged to be recently retired County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan.

“The defendant was convicted of threatening to put a bullet in the head of a county judge,” said District Attorney Joseph A. McBride. “There can be no greater threat to a person. The jury did the right thing. He will be facing a sentence of up to seven years and because of his conduct I will be asking that he be kept away from society for as long as legally possible.”