Child Custody Dispute Escalates to Alleged Threat to Kill Judge

A Washington Township man was expected to be arraigned Thursday for threatening to kill a Macomb County judge by placing a pressure-cooker bomb under her car and shoot her if a child-custody case didn’t go his way.

Keith Arnold Rebar, 55, has been charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism in connection with the alleged threat against Judge Kathryn Viviano, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said in a statement.

“If history has taught us anything, it’s that this level of threat needs to be taken seriously and stopped immediately,” Smith said.

Rebar was arrested at his home and was expected to be formally charged Thursday afternoon in 41B District Court in Clinton Township.

Rebar also allegedly threatened to break out windows of Sterling Heights police vehicles. According to the release, Rabar told police “he had visions of entering an office, lining people up, and shooting bullets above their heads.”

If convicted of the terrorism charges, Rebar could face up to 20 years in prison.

Rebar and his ex-wife, Jilly Rebar, were divorced in early 2010, but the child custody case has tied up courts since with dozens of hearings and filings, The Macomb Daily said. A hearing that had been scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled for Oct. 14.

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