Background: East Ridge City Hall in East Ridge, Tenn. where John Cris Helton previously held a position as a judge (Google Maps). Inset: John Cris Helton (Panama City Beach Police Department).

A former city judge in Tennessee was detained in Florida after authorities alleged he sent a threatening text to his wife, indicating his intention to kill her and her companion.

John Cris Helton, aged 63, was apprehended on Sept. 28 in Panama City Beach, Florida, following charges of issuing a written threat to kill or inflict bodily harm. Per a criminal complaint accessed by Law&Crime, Helton is alleged to have sent a text to his wife and her friend at midnight on that date, featuring a photo of a “large black and silver kitchen knife.” The accompanying message stated, “I take that back I will kill both of you first.”

Law enforcement officials mentioned in the complaint that Helton dispatched the message to a group text involving himself, his wife, and her friend. Helton’s wife reported to authorities that she feared for her safety and was “reluctant to be near” him after receiving the supposed threat.

The complaint lacked additional information on why the message was sent or if threats and violence were part of the couple’s history. The complete text allegedly from Helton said, “I take that back I will kill both of you first. Don’t forget she knows your worth.”

During discussions with police, Helton responded to questions after being informed of his rights. In the interview, he confessed to dispatching the photo and the message. Police remarked in the complaint that the photo showed the kitchen knife resting on Helton’s lap. At the time of the interview, Helton was donning “the same color of pants and shirt” as depicted in the contentious photo.

Helton was arrested on Sept. 28 and charged with sending a written threat to kill or do bodily harm. He was booked into jail on $50,000 bond, which he posted on Sept. 30. Helton was ordered not to contact his wife. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 3.