Man Sentenced for Death Threats Against OC Family Law Judge, Prioritizing Violence Over Parenthood
Former Orange County Father Sentenced to Seven Years for Threatening Judge
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Byrom Zuniga Sanchez, a 34-year-old former resident of Orange County, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for making death threats against a Superior Court judge. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Fred W. Slaughter following a jury trial in December 2025, where Sanchez was found guilty on two counts of threats communicated across state lines.
Between May and July 2023, Sanchez sent multiple emails targeting the judge, courtroom personnel, and police officers, including a particularly alarming message in July that stated he would dedicate the remainder of his life to "assassinating judges, attorneys, and a police station’s entire shift staff."
Sanchez was apprehended in February 2024 while attempting to enter the United States at the San Diego border. He has been in detention since his arrest.
Prosecutors noted Sanchez’s disturbing lack of remorse during the legal proceedings. They characterized his actions as a "terrifying embrace of his offenses," emphasizing the necessity of a substantial sentence to deter similar conduct in the future. Particularly striking was a quote from Sanchez’s emails where he claimed, "I am more committed to murdering you than I am to being present as a father."
In addition to his prison sentence, Sanchez has been ordered to pay restitution of $22,790. He will begin serving his term in federal custody immediately.
