LAWRENCE — A man that was arrested after a long standoff with police in Athol last week was arraigned and held without bail Monday at Lawrence District Court.
Jeffrey Wheeler, 56, of Athol was arraigned on charges of two counts intimidation of a court official and one count of threat to commit a crime, to wit bodily injury, according to Essex County District Attorney Spokesman Stephen O’Connell.
Wheeler is held without right to bail until at least Thursday when a dangerousness hearing is expected.
O’Connell said the case was originally scheduled to take place at Newburyport District Court in eastern Massachusetts, but was moved “because the alleged victim is usually at Newburyport District Court.” He could not specify further.
According to a previous story, the charges stemmed from an alleged threat of a state judge.
Wheeler was arrested at 3 a.m. on Friday, July 27, after he initially refused to surrender himself to State Police Thursday night. Wheeler and police reportedly had an eight-hour standoff before Wheeler was subdued with a Taser after police gained access to his home.
Wheeler previously filed two cases against the state within the past year in federal court. One, in March, filed complaints against the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety and was dismissed July 13.
Another case was filed in May against Massachusetts and TD Bank. Wheeler claims the state, at times specifically Gov. Charlie Baker, has spied on him at his home, including via recordings.