SILVERTON — A Silverton man was taken into custody by the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office Wednesday night following alleged threats he made to District One Magistrate Judge Barbara Duggan earlier that day.

Shoshone County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Allen said the Shoshone County court clerk contacted the prosecutor's office around 3:30 p.m. the same day with an emergency request regarding a letter that had been mailed to the courthouse. Court documents indicate its contents included a direct threat to use weapons of mass destruction to kill Judge Duggan and/or other law enforcement officers by strapping a bomb to their chest.

"We made the determination that the threat was serious, needed immediate attention, and summoned the SCSO to respond to the courthouse and begin the investigation into the threatening letter," Allen said.

Security at the courthouse was temporarily increased to ensure the safety of those inside and determine the source of the threat.

Robin Lee Gutierrez, 38, was discovered to be the author of the letter.

Gutierrez had already been charged with first-degree felony stalking and violating a protection order after the victim came forward on or around Oct. 21. Duggan issued a $20,000 warrant for his arrest on Oct. 26.

"We requested that law enforcement take immediate action in an attempt to locate and to ensure the safety and security of the public courthouse and/or the judge and law enforcement," Allen said.

The search for Gutierrez began immediately. Around 8 Wednesday night, deputies tracked Gutierrez to a residence.

Following about an hour of negotiations, he surrendered.

Gutierrez was booked into the Shoshone County jail on charges of stalking and violating the terrorism control act. He went before Judge Scott Wayman Thursday afternoon and his bond was set at $250,000.