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Jason Tolonen
Jason Ian Tolonen, 52, of Westland, faces charges of sending threatening emails to Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Faunce.
Tolonen is accused of sending threatening emails in January to Faunce’s court reporter that referenced the judge.
According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, the language in the emails was disjointed but included comments such as “all dead mass killed,” “all mass murdered,” and “die die die.”
References to “family” and “Warren” were also made. Judge Jennifer M. Faunce’s sister, Suzanne Faunce, is a current Warren District Court judge, and their father, Sherman Faunce, is a former Warren District Court judge.
The Macomb Daily reports that Tolonen has had no cases before Judge Faunce. He has prior low-level criminal cases in Macomb Circuit Court; the last was in 2015 before then-Judge Edward Servitto.
Tolonen was arraigned Thursday in 39th District Court in Roseville, Michigan, before Judge Kathleen E. Tocco on charges of using a computer to commit a crime and unlawful posting of a message with aggravating circumstances.
The judge set bond at $500,000 cash/surety. If Tolonen posts bond and is released, he must wear a GPS tether.
“We take any threat against a judge with the utmost seriousness,” Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement. “The safety of our judiciary is non-negotiable. No public servant should fear for their safety or the safety of their loved ones simply for doing their job. We are committed to holding the defendant accountable and ensuring that those who serve our justice system are protected.”
