Two law enforcement agencies have launched separate inquiries into comments alleged as a possible "threat" against the Burnet County judge during a county commissioners court meeting.
According to the recorded meeting audio, obtained by The Highlander, Burnet County resident Craig Cosgray spoke to Burnet County commissioners Sept. 12 during a time set aside for discussion.
Commissioners considered, and even - tually granted, reimbursement of salary to Burnet County Judge James Oakley. Oakley was acquitted Aug. 31 on a mis - demeanor charge, alleging he misused a county vehicle. On his first day back, the court mulled giving him back pay from his suspension since March.
During the commissioners meeting, Cosgray expressed his disapproval of reimbursement by sharing a personal account of an alleged interaction he had with the judge at a 2022 Republican party post-election event.
Cosgray alleged that the judge greeted him by grabbing his hand aggressively.
“I stuck my hand out like this. He d*mn near jerked me to the floor," Cosgray told commissioners. “The only reason I didn't hit the floor is because I was able to get my left foot out.
Cosgray described the interaction as a “terrorist threat” and “assault and battery.” He added he made a report about the judge for the Burnet Police Department (BPD).
Oakley was not in the room for Cosgray’s comments, since he recused himself due to the impending vote about his salary.
One of Cosgray’s later comments resulted in a report by county officials in charge of court security, launching a protocol outlined in state law.
Cosgray told commissioners: “I told (BPD Police Capt. Jason) Davis this. I carry (a firearm) now. If Oakley gets in my no-fly zone, I'm gonna kill him. That’s how p*ssed off I am. No one’s going to issue a terrorist threat to me.”
Burnet County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Sorenson explained what occurred with the report.
“The court security coordinator, they have to submit something in writing to the Office of Court Administration because of the events that took place yesterday (Sept. 12) in commissioners court,” he told The Highlander. “The Burnet Police Department is working the complaint. … to see what it turns into – a possible threat.”
Sorenson confirmed, that “He (the sheriff) was there (in commissioners court) when it occurred.”
“Our only role in this will be we have to make a report,” Sorenson explained. “There’s an entity at the state level that oversees courts, and we have to file incidents with them just to document it.”
The entity, the Texas Office of Courtroom Administration, is an entity under the Texas Supreme Court.
“We have an obligation to report it,” Sorenson said.
SB 42, which requires that obligation, passed into law after Travis County District Court Judge Julie Kocurek was shot and wounded in front of her home in November 2015.
She accused the Travis County Sheriff’s Office of failing to warn her about threats on her life preceding the shooting. The shooter was eventually sentenced to life in prison. The Texas Senate bill was then passed to enhance security, prevention and safety reporting in an effort to protect courts and judges.
The Burnet County report regarding Cosgray’s comments triggered the report protocol.
“The criminal (side of the complaint) would be handled by the police department,” Sorenson said.
Burnet Police Detective Steven Vollmar is looking into the complaint about the statements.
“We were asked to look into it,” Vollmar said. “I’m in the early stages of what happened yesterday (Sept. 12). I need to get recordings. I need to talk to people, interview people. Find out who heard what, who did what, who said what.
“There were probably 40 people in there,” he added.
During the meeting Cosgray described, in detail, how he perceived his interaction with Oakley.
“It was like I got cold-cocked,” he said. “I had no idea this was going to happen. I don’t think I said a hundred words to him in (the) 15 years that I’ve been active.”
Cosgray also castigated officials in attendance for considering support for Oakley’s reimbursement.
“What in the h*ll’s wrong with you people?” he said. “I realize the federal government’s criminally taken over. The state government, something’s wrong with them, but I’m not going to live in this county like this.”
Cosgray did not return phone nor email requests for comment by press deadline on Sept. 14.