A chief judge in Colorado is charged with aggravated intimidation, removed from the position

Fifth District Judge Mark Thompson (Colorado Judicial Branch)

The chief judge of Colorado’s fifth district court was charged on Saturday with aggravated threat, according to court records.

Judge Mark Thompson, 54, who headed courts in Summit, Clear Creek, Eagle and Lake counties, was removed from his position as chief justice after the indictment was filed Saturday, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Thompson was charged with a single count of crimes that threatened a real or simulated weapon following an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, according to court records that say the incident happened on July 25th.

The case was suppressed by the public, and court documents expected to describe the charge against Thompson were not immediately available Sunday.

The judge could not be reached for comment and his lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.

Threatening a real or simulated weapon is a Class 5 crime and is typically punishable by one to three years in prison followed by parole in accordance with state guidelines for sentencing.

People make serious threats if they deliberately make someone fear being seriously injured and if they simultaneously use a lethal weapon or something resembling a weapon, or tell the victim that they are armed with a lethal weapon, according to state law .

Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright on Saturday appointed Judge Paul Dunkelman to serve as interim Chief Justice of the Fifth Court, while the criminal case against Thompson is pending.

“The case involving Judge Thompson will be dealt with properly through the justice system,” Boatright said in a press release. “Judge Thompson has the presumption of innocence and he is entitled to and deserves due process.”

All the judges in the fifth judicial district withdrew from the case against their colleague. Judge Sean Finn, who works in the 17th district – covering the counties of Adams and Broomfield – will preside over the case instead, according to a note from State Court Administrator Steven Vasconcellos.

Thompson worked as a lawyer in Summit County for 18 years before becoming a city court judge in 2010, according to the Legal Department. He was appointed Chief Justice in 2013.

Thompson, who was indicted by subpoena, is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 17.