A Nashville judge has said she will not back down after receiving threats over her decision to keep controversial streamer Dalton Eatherly, better known as “ChudTheBuilder,” behind bars. Judge Melissa Blackburn revealed that she, her staff and the courthouse received numerous threatening phone calls and social media messages after she revoked Eatherly’s bond on June 17. Even after that, she stood by her ruling and sent his Nashville case to a grand jury. The developments were first highlighted by Dexerto, while details of the court hearing were also reported by AOL and Fox 17.
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Why Judge Melissa Blackburn revoked Dalton Eatherly’s bond
Dalton Eatherly, 28, first landed in legal trouble in early May after a livestreamed incident at Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Nashville.
Police accused him of refusing to pay a bill worth nearly $400, creating a disturbance, using racial slurs and resisting arrest. He was charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest before being released on bond.
Just days later, while still out on bond, Eatherly became involved in a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville. Investigators said an argument turned into a fight before shots were fired. Both Eatherly and another man, Joshua Fox, were injured.
Prosecutors later charged Eatherly with attempted murder, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. His bond in that separate case was set at more than $1 million.
During the June 17 hearing, prosecutors also presented Eatherly’s social media posts, describing them as violent and racist. Judge Blackburn said the new charges, along with his online behavior while out on bond, were enough to revoke his release in the Nashville case.
