Kenny Richey, Former Death Row Briton Faces Jail Again After Judge Threats

Posted: 14/04/2012 13:14 Updated: 14/04/2012 13:24   PA

Kenny Richey
Kenny Richey, a former death row inmate, could face jail again after threatening a judge

A Briton who spent two decades on Death Row could be sent back to jail in America after admitting threatening a judge who prosecuted his original case.

Kenny Richey pleaded guilty to a retaliation charge and now faces up to three years in prison. He will be sentenced in Ohio on May 7.

The 47-year-old Scot agreed to plead guilty in exchange for prosecutors dropping a charge that he broke a protection order when he called the Putnam County courthouse in Ottawa on New Year's Eve.

Investigators said Richey was at his home in Tupelo, Mississippi, when he left the phone message for county judge Randall Basinger, warning that he was coming to get him.

Richey returned to Scotland in January 2008 after 21 years in a US prison awaiting execution.

The former marine, who was born to a Scottish mother and American father, walked free in 2008 under a plea deal after a federal court overturned his death sentence.

He had been convicted of starting a fire that killed a toddler. He denied any involvement and became well-known in Britain as he fought for his release.

He now lives in Tupelo, where he was arrested in January.

FOLLOW UK

A Briton who spent two decades on Death Row could be sent back to jail in America after admitting threatening a judge who prosecuted his original case. Kenny Richey pleaded guilty to a retaliation ...
A Briton who spent two decades on Death Row could be sent back to jail in America after admitting threatening a judge who prosecuted his original case. Kenny Richey pleaded guilty to a retaliation ...
Filed by Lucy Sherriff  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 21
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
01:15 PM on 04/15/2012
if you threaten the law it stands to reason they will deal with you . no sympathy .
11:59 AM on 04/15/2012
After all, none of you know the facts so keep your nose out. Fact, the U.S. justice system is riddled and rigged with corrupt Judges and the like. Let me tell you one thing, they would not have let him go had they had an airtight case. Until you face there justice system you should really not comment on something you know nothing about. His idle threat though was silly, and I am sure he knows this when dealing with a corrupt system they will only get him again as they have done.
12:08 PM on 04/15/2012
How do you know what we know? Do you think that you are the only one to have have knowledge of the USA penal system? Make sure your brain is engaged before making such crass assumptions.
05:17 AM on 04/15/2012
After escaping the death penalty wouldn't you have thought he would treasure his good fortune? And not put a foot wrong out of respect for the campaigners that helped to set him free.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tulliallon
01:10 AM on 04/15/2012
an idiot from start to finish ,was given a life line when he came to Scotland ,and he mucked it up thinking we would accept a new reformed guy ,and he proved he was a first class idiot no country wants or deserves him JUST A WASTE OF SPACE
10:19 PM on 04/14/2012
Maybe he liked it in prison
07:50 PM on 04/14/2012
Many decent people fought for his release, from prison,
what a waste of time that turned out to be,
looking at his antics now.
wes
This comment has been removed.
05:27 PM on 04/14/2012
So what happened to the woman in scotland who fought to get him released, and who was going to marry him? I take it he ditched her as soon as he got out...?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jimbraid1
05:06 PM on 04/14/2012
This guy is not the sharpest tool in the box obviously, and once a thug always a thug. I didnt know he had left Scotland but its good news, we have our fair share of local bred head bangers here already, dont need more.
07:52 PM on 04/14/2012
I will second that jim/.
wes
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
03:57 PM on 04/14/2012
Surely, once bitten twice shy?
06:49 PM on 04/14/2012
Do you mean: Once Britain twice shy.?!>
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Norman Mitchison
11:08 AM on 04/15/2012
Thats good...I like that one!
02:48 PM on 04/14/2012
Death Row is very cruel for an innocent man its deigned to derange a mind even if it isn't to begin with - A littel understanding may have been called for
02:58 PM on 04/14/2012
don't know where you got the idea he was an innocent man from. he walked free under a plea deal after the federal court overturned his death sentence. I haven't read anywhere that he was an innocent man. This cretin has been in and out of trouble since he was released. He is a total waste of oxygen.
03:03 PM on 04/14/2012
don't know where you got the idea he was innocent from. He walked free under a plea deal after the federal court overturned his death sentence. I'm sure he said he was innocent all these years in prison but then prisons are full of innocent men. He has been in and out of trouble since his release from jail. Total waste of skin.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jimbraid1
05:06 PM on 04/14/2012
correct