Jacksonville Man Indicted in Attempted Murder of United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan

JACKSONVILLE—Acting United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Aaron M. Richardson (24, Jacksonville) with a number of federal offenses, including the attempted murder of United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan. In addition to the attempted murder of a sitting United States District Judge, the indictment also charges Richardson with federal firearm offenses involving the possession and discharge of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The indictment also charges Richardson with failure to attend court hearings and making numerous false statements to the FBI and his supervising probation officer. Finally, the indictment alleges that Richardson impersonated a captain in the United States Navy.

In total, the indictment charges Richardson with committing 25 separate federal offenses. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Richardson that the United States intends to forfeit a Savage Arms .30-06 rifle and Winchester ammunition used during the attempted murder.

According to the indictment and court records, Judge Corrigan previously convicted and sentenced Richardson for attempting to make an incendiary device in a 2008 case. Following incarceration for that crime, Richardson was serving a term of supervised release. Beginning in 2012, Richardson made a number of false statements to his probation officer about new arrests and new criminal court appearances in Clay, Duval, and Volusia Counties. On January 30, 2013, Richardson appeared in federal court on a petition alleging his violation of supervised release for committing new crimes. Richardson was released with conditions that day.

The indictment alleges that Richardson continued making false statements to his assigned probation officer and failed to appear for court hearings on June 3 and June 11, 2013. Shortly thereafter, Richardson stole a Savage Arms .30-06 rifle and ammunition from the a Sports Authority store in Jacksonville. Several days later, on June 23, 2013, he discharged that rifle during his attempt to murder Judge Corrigan.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the FBI and multiple other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the United States Marshals Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Probation Office; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; the Clay County Sheriff’s Office; the Baker County Sheriff’s Office; the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office; the Daytona Beach Police Department; and the Bethune Cookman University Public Safety Office. The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener, III and Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Devereaux.

Photos from the related press conference:

During a press conference at the federal courthouse in downtown Jacksonville, Jacksonville Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michelle S. Klimt thanks federal, state, and local law enforcement for their partnership in the investigation, which led to the indictment charging Aaron M. Richardson, 24, with a number of federal offenses, including the attempted murder of United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan.
Representatives from multiple assisting law enforcement agencies gather for a press conference to announce the unsealing of the indictment charging Aaron M. Richardson with a number of federal offenses, including the attempted murder of United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan. The investigation was led by the FBI with support and cooperation from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Probation; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Florida Department of Financial Services; Bethune Cookman University Public Safety; Baker County Sheriff’s Office; Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Daytona Beach Police Department; and the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office.