Man Who Took Ax To Judicial Referee's Home Convicted Of Stalking, Assault
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A man who showed up to a judicial referee's house armed with an ax, apparently upset over having a child removed from his home, was convicted of felony stalking and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on Thursday.
John Parlante, 46, drove to the Rancho Cordova home of Sacramento County Family Court Judicial Referee Daniel Horton on the morning of Feb. 17 armed with an ax.
Sacramento Police Detective Darby Lannom was assisting with the service of a search warrant at Horton's home that morning in a sexual molestation case against Horton. While sitting in an unmarked car, the detective witnessed Parlante drive up to Horton's house, walk up to and around the house with the axe in his hand, and return to his van where he watched the residence, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.
The detective then saw Parlante follow Horton's wife in her car as she drove away from the home. Parlante returned back to the house once he realized she was alone in the car.
When two of Daniel Horton's children left the house and got in a truck parked on the driveway, Parlante got in his van, accelerated rapidly and drove across the lawn straight at the truck parked in the driveway. The van came to a stop only a couple of feet from the truck. Parlante got out of his van and Detective Lannom ran toward him ordering him to the ground.
Detectives searched the van and found the axe, several news stories referencing Horton as well as transcripts of court proceedings involving Parlante's case. A store video recording showed Parlante purchasing the axe and the receipt was found in his van.
Horton presided over a case in 2008 where one of Parlante's children was removed from his home.
Sentencing for Parlante is set for June 27.
Horton resigned from his judicial position after charges against him that he posed as a talent model and convinced teen girls to undress for him. The next court hearing in his case is also scheduled for June 27 in Sacramento Superior Court.
