Mount Clemens man pleads, sentenced in threat against judge

A Macomb County man charged in connection to a threatening voicemail left for a circuit court judge pleaded no contest and was immediately sentenced, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

Robert Scruggs, 44, of Mt. Clemens, was arraigned in December on one count of misdemeanor malicious use of a telecommunications device.

In mid-August, Judge Richard Caretti at Macomb County Circuit Court received a two-minute voicemail that included death threats. Scruggs was determined to be the caller.   

Tuesday morning, Scruggs pleaded no contest to the charge in Macomb County’s 41-B District Court. Judge Jacob Michael Femmineneo immediately sentenced him to two years of reporting probation and a mental health screening.

As part of the sentence, Scruggs must abide by all recommendations of a mental health evaluation, including counseling and/or medication recommendations. Scruggs was also ordered to have no contact with Caretti and his staff. If Scruggs violates his terms of probation, he will be sentenced to jail time.

“My office will continue to take direct threats against public officials seriously,” Nessel said.