On Thursday, July 10, 2025, CBS12 reported that a federal judge in Amarillo, Texas, has recused himself from a case involving a man accused of threatening his life. The case has been reassigned to District Judge James Wesley Hendrix in Lubbock, Texas.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said in a letter to the U.S. District Clerk that he is recusing from the case, citing a specific threat made by defendant Donald Ray McCray. McCray allegedly stated that white powder sent to the courthouse was intended for Judge Kacsmaryk, claiming, “I tried to kill and murder him.”
McCray is facing charges for sending envelopes containing white powder to federal courthouses in both Amarillo and Fort Worth. Prosecutors assert that McCray aimed to instill fear by making it appear as though the substance was a biological agent, potentially resembling anthrax.
In addition to these allegations, McCray is also accused of sending threatening letters to federal judges in Fort Worth and Brooklyn, New York.
Originally scheduled to appear in court on Friday, McCray’s public defender filed a motion for a psychological evaluation to assess his competency to stand trial. Defense attorney Eric Coats indicated that after several meetings with McCray, he believes the defendant may be suffering from a mental disorder that hinders his ability to comprehend the legal proceedings or assist in his defense.
Magistrate Judge Lee Ann Reno approved this motion, resulting in a temporary halt to all hearings and deadlines related to the case.
McCray, who was convicted of murder in Dallas County in 1992, is currently serving his sentence at the Robertson Unit in Abilene, Texas, from where he allegedly sent the threatening letters.
Source: CBS12
