A former Orange County resident is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill a sitting judge, as revealed in court documents obtained on Friday.
Byrom Zuniga Sanchez, 32, previously of Laguna Niguel, has been charged with the felony of threat by interstate/foreign communication, according to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Zuniga, who is currently a fugitive believed to be in Mexico, has sent multiple threatening communications since May 16. These threats include targeting the Orange County Superior Court judge who presided over a family court matter involving Zuniga from 2019 to 2021, as stated by FBI Special Agent Tyler Call in the document.
The affidavit further reveals that Zuniga has also made threats to kill or harm other individuals, including judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officials.
In July, Zuniga allegedly sent a threatening email to the Orange County judge, stating, “I am more committed to murdering you than I am to being present as a father” and “Do you have any last words, apologies, or regrets you want to communicate before I lawfully kill you,” according to the affidavit.
Additional email messages from Zuniga have also contained threats against other judges, attorneys, and police officers, such as, “The remainder of my life will be dedicated to assassinating judges, attorneys, and a police station’s entire shift staff,” as reported by Agent Call.
The affidavit states that Zuniga is the subject of multiple domestic violence protective orders, pending arrest warrants, and a workplace violence order. He also has several warrants in Orange County for state criminal offenses, including evading police/reckless driving, invasion of privacy, violation of a court order, and criminal threats.
Zuniga’s Instagram posts indicate that he is currently in Morella, Mexico. The affidavit also mentions that Zuniga lacks legal status in the United States and is subject to deportation.
According to the affidavit, Zuniga led Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies on a chase in May 2022 when they responded to a home where he was allegedly violating a domestic violence court order. After negotiations lasting several hours, Zuniga surrendered and was arrested.
A warrant was issued for Zuniga’s arrest on September 8 when he failed to appear in court for a domestic violence case from May 4 of the previous year. In that case, Zuniga violated a domestic violence court order and led sheriff’s deputies on a chase from Mission Viejo before barricading himself in a fast food parking lot in Foothill Ranch.
Zuniga’s former live-in girlfriend filed for a restraining order in April 2019, alleging that he posted videos of their then-5-year-old son when he was upset to YouTube, along with comments accusing her of neglecting their child.
In February 2019, Zuniga was ordered to pay nearly $1,000 a month in child support.
In May of last year, a family law court mediator filed for a workplace violence restraining order against Zuniga. The mediator claimed that during an “emergency mediation” session in July 2020 between Zuniga and the mother of their child, he began a pattern of harassment, including threatening and disturbing comments on Instagram.
The mediator stated that after she blocked Zuniga on the app, her husband started receiving threats on another social media platform. One of Zuniga’s alleged comments read, “Don’t forget to say your prayers tonight while repenting for who you are, and the deafening corruption against innocent children that you have consciously enabled.” The mediator also mentioned that Zuniga tagged the attorney representing his ex-spouse and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in his posts.
In addition to the above, Zuniga is also facing charges of misdemeanor disobeying a domestic relations court order, making annoying and repeated phone calls, reckless driving, and resisting arrest, as indicated in court records.
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