HUNTINGTON Ƶ A man who ran for mayor of Huntington in the 2024 primary election was charged with intimidation and retaliation against a public official Monday, according to a criminal bail agreement from the Cabell County Magistrate Court.
Richard Luther, 70, was charged with a felony after a Huntington police officer was dispatched to City Hall at around 1 p.m. Monday following reports of threats regarding Mayor Steve Williams, according to a criminal complaint.
The complaint said, upon arriving at the scene, the officer spoke with a witness who said they saw Luther enter City Hall and approach him and another witness, ƵboastingƵ that Luther was the reason for them being there. According to the complaint, Luther was then heard telling security officers he was going to kill Williams.
The complaint said Luther, while passing through the metal detector, accused Williams of threatening to kill him, but security allowed Luther inside to pay a bill for his mother.
While inside the payment office, Luther was assisted by another witness who heard him accuse Williams and WilliamsƵs brother-in-law of being members of the Ƶmafia,Ƶ according to the complaint. The witness told police she then heard Luther say he was going to ƵgetƵ Williams before Williams could ƵgetƵ him.
The complaint said the witness told police Luther asked when the next City Council meeting would be, and he said he would be there and it would Ƶbe big.Ƶ The witness then told police, based on the comments she said she heard, she believed Luther was going to harm Williams, according to the complaint.
Another witness also told police she heard Luther say the witnesses should attend the City Hall meeting and bring cameras because it would be Ƶvery interesting,Ƶ according to the complaint.
The complaint said, upon leaving City Hall, security told police Luther said the officers should be at the meeting because Luther was going to Ƶtake the mayor down.Ƶ Security told police, and according to the complaint, they then heard Luther say, ƵHe threatened to kill me, but I am an actual killer. You donƵt even know the ones IƵve killed,Ƶ and, ƵI am going to kill him.Ƶ
According to the bail agreement, Luther was released on a $25,000 cash bond Tuesday and was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with Williams or be in or around City Hall.
Luther is scheduled to appear in Cabell County Magistrate Court on Monday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m., according to the agreement.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and courts reporter for The Herald-Dispatch.
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