A central Kentucky has been sentenced after threatening the life of a commonwealth attorney.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced that 41-year-old Christopher Rhodes, of Lexington, was sentenced to 42 months in prison (3.5 years) after agreeing to a plea deal.
He was charged with interstate communication of a threat.
According to his plea agreement, on May 22, 2025, Rhodes used his Google account to send an email to Laurel and Knox county’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, Jackie Steele.
“Rhodes intended the email as a threat and specifically indicated that Steele needed curtains in his residence and made references to his wife and children and that he should fear for the safety of his family. This message was sent as part of a series of emails that spanned multiple weeks that expressed Rhodes’ anger with Steele based on Steele’s service as commonwealth attorney,” according to prosecutors.
Under federal law, Rhodes must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
