Essex County Man Accused Of Threatening A Judge Deemed Incompetent

LOWELL -- A Salisbury man accused of leaving a threatening voicemail targeting the Newburyport District Court presiding justice and allegedly threatening to decapitate another man with a sickle has been deemed incompetent.

A disheveled-looking Danny V. Roy, 62, of 40 Kendall Lane, Salisbury,shook his head as Lowell District Court Judge Daniel Crane ordered the 62-year-old Salisbury man held without bail while he undergo further psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.

His next court date is April 14 for a review.

While Roy's cases would normally be heard in Essex County courts, his cases were transferred to Middlesex County due to the events involving the judge.

Roy has pleaded not guilty to charges of threats to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon (a sickle) for an incident on Oct. 23. Salisbury police allege that a driver, who was dropping off Roy's neighbor, told police that Roy, who was holding a sickle, yelled at the driver, "How long do you think it would take for me to cut your head off with this?''

Roy has also has pleaded not guilty to charges of intimidation of a witness and threats to commit a crime in connection with a Sept. 13, 2016 incident in which he allegedly left a message threatening Newburyport District Court Presiding Justice Peter F. Doyle.

On the recording Roy allegedly states, "I want to see that Judge Doyle. I'll take care of him all day." The message continues, "I've already taken care of him" and "he should be afraid of me right now."

At the time, Roy was being held at Tewksbury State Hospital after being found incompetent to stand trial for three cases in Newburyport District Court:

* In two 2014 cases, Roy was charged with threats, assault with a dangerous weapon, trespass, disturbing a school and disturbing the peace.* In a January 2016 case, he was charged with disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. He was sent for a competency evaluation.

Roy had appeared before Doyle multiple times and has "communicated'' that he blames Doyle and the Amesbury Police Department for the suicide of his son, Christopher Roy, in April 2014, according to court documents.

State troopers met with Roy and his advocate at the hospital and expressed concerns about the threatening language used toward the judge. Roy insisted he did not intend any physical harm to the judge.