A lawyer involved in a contentious child custody dispute in Westchester County faces serious allegations for allegedly threatening a judge through a series of unsettling text messages.
“I’m going to beat you,” Yonkers attorney Nicholas Leo purportedly sent to Susan Kapesi, a Supreme Court Judge, in one of his texts. Another message expressed a grim hope for her fate: “I hope they die from the car fire tonight.”
In yet another chilling message, Leo, who is 57, stated, “I warned you every month. If you took my child out of me and you did it, it won’t work. I hope you die.”
On Friday, Leo was taken into custody for aggravated harassment, a felony, and is currently being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail until his next court appearance on Wednesday.
The Westchester County District Attorney, Susan Kakers, made a statement emphasizing the seriousness of the case. “The alleged actions of defendants are particularly shocking, especially at a time when threats against judicial figures are increasing,” she remarked. Citing a 2024 Federal Judicial Report, she mentioned US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ concerns regarding violence and intimidation towards judges, calling it “completely unacceptable.”
“We must never allow this type of conduct to be normalized,” Kakers added, underscoring the sanctity of the legal process.
Reports indicate Leo’s conflicts with Judge Kapesi began in relation to charges filed against him over the past months linked to the custody battle. Complicating matters, his wife filed for divorce in September, which added to the turmoil. The threatening texts were allegedly sent between May 27 and the recent Wednesday.
Judge John Patrick Collins, presiding over the case during Leo’s arrest at White Plains City Court, issued a protective order mandating that Leo stay away from Kapesi.
