LONDON, Ky. - A Lexington, Ky., man, Christopher Rhodes, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom to 42 months for interstate communication of a threat.

According to his plea agreement, on May 22, 2025, Rhodes used his Google account to send an email to Jackie Steele, who is the Commonwealth Attorney for Laurel and Knox Counties. 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.

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.

Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney's Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman.

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