Former Lansford man sought over threats
Northampton County police are looking for a former Lansford man who has a history of threatening people.
This time John R. Large, 51, is accused of menacing a judge with early morning phone calls.At about 1 a.m. Dec. 21,Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano received a phone call at home, according to an affidavit filed by Colonial Regional Police officer Michael J. Munch.The male caller asked Giordano if he remembered him from the time they met outside Northampton County Senior Judge John Braxton's courtroom.The caller used profanity, and told Giordano he needed to "fix this" so the caller could see his children by Christmas.The man called again a few minutes later to tell Giordano that "if he didn't fix this, he would declare war on the Pennsylvania judicial system, beginning with Giordano," Ruvolo wrote.Later that day, Giordano spoke with Braxton, who told him Large had been harassing him and another Lehigh County judge by telephone.Munch contacted RCN, which determined the calls to Giordano's house were from an AT&T Wireless phone.Munch contacted AT&T on Dec. 23. The company determined the number was Large's.Colonial Regional Police charged him with threatening with a felony charge of unlawful harm to influence, and harassment.Large is also accused of threatening a woman via phone in October 2015.According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Bethlehem Detective John Ruvolo, here's what happened:On Oct. 31, police were called to the home of Dwight Schaffner and Patricia Zurick. Schaffner told police the phone had rung at 1:39 a.m. and the unidentified male caller asked if Zurick was there.When Schaffner asked who the caller was, and the man responded, "nursing."Schaffner handed Zurick the phone, and the caller screamed at her."Patty, you thought I forgot about you. Well, I didn't, you (expletive). I'm going to slash your (expletive) throat and (expletive) bury you where no one will ever find your (expletive) body," the caller screamed.Police contacted Ironton Telephone Company, which determined the call was made from Large's number.Large had been arrested for recording Zurich by audio and visual means without her consent in June 2014.Ruvolo contacted Large's Carbon County probation officer, Cliff Eckhart, who confirmed the number was Large's.Police charged Large with terroristic threats and harassment for that call.Large has a history of similar offenses.In 2014, he was charged with planting a fake bomb on June 14 near the car of a Nesquehoning woman he had been harassing.The woman and her husband, Tom, discovered their vehicles had been vandalized, threatening notes were left on the windshields and a duct-taped box of Honey Nut Cheerios on which was printed "tic toc" had been placed on the ground near the woman's car.Large was apparently upset with the woman, an administrator at a Bethlehem nursing facility where Large's daughter was a patient.Several years ago, Large was charged with stalking the late Carbon County Judge David W. Addy over three days.Addy had presided over an earlier custody hearing involving Large.Large confronted Addy in the courthouse, and showed up at the judge's house, threatening to kill him. Addy locked himself and his family inside and called 911. A neighbor testified that Large repeatedly threatened to kill the judge.