Photos by CandaceWest.com.1-18-2013.Robing Ceremony for nine judges at Broward County Courthouse. .Former judge Jay Spechler

A Broward Sheriff's Office investigation has revealed former Broward Judge Jay Spechler's IP address was the source of a menacing post directed at Broward Circuit Judge Michael Lynch.

Sun Sentinel reporter Rafael Olmeda broke the story after obtaining an incident report from the Sheriff's Office, which described the investigation as “closed and inactive.”

According to Olmeda's report, the message was posted on courthouse blog JAABlog.com, and said, “Your intimidation and scare tactics will come to a screeching halt, just like your pathetic, miserable lives. Waiting is the hardest part.”

The message also accused Lynch and affiliates of violating elections laws.

“Turd and Lynch,” the post began. “If it was so easy and you didn't need to cheat, why resort to violating the election laws in your cheat to win scheme? Ask Judge Santino in Palm Beach the same question. JQC has zero tolerance for cheating.”

According to the incident report, “Turd” was used in reference to attorney Michael Ahearn, a friend of Lynch's, who advised him in his 2016 election campaign.

Lynch told investigators he feared for his life after reading the message.

Click here to read the incident report

Willian Gelin, primary author of the JAABlog, was served with a subpoena by the State Attorney's Office, requesting that he share the IP address of the post's author.

The IP address Gelin provided indicated to investigators that the post had come from a computer or phone beloning to Spechler, who now practices as a mediation attorney.

In response, JAABlog have stated it that this was the second incident in which the site has “kicked out” IP addresses since its inception.

“The first occasion resulted in a prison sentence,” JAABBlog said in a statement today. ”While this time no action has been taken. No other law enforcement subpoenas have been received to date.”

According to the incident report, Lynch became aware of the threat June 29 and told investigators that “the suspect has been posting vile and negative comments towards him several times a day for the past two years.”

Lynch did not wish to comment on the story, feeling that the report speaks for itself.

A spokesperson from the Broward Sheriff's Office explained that the case remains inactive as the case did not meet the threshold for an arrest.

Spechler resigned as Broward County Court judge in 2008, four days on from being demoted to presiding over traffic and parking matters, after he allegedly made inappropriate comments about another judge's sexual orientation.

When reached for comment, Spechler referred back to a statement he had provided the Sun Sentinel:

Since August of 2016, me and my family have been defamed and maligned by Michael Ahearn, Tom Lynch and Michael Lynch on the courthouse blog known as JAABlog.com. The incessant blogging over the past two years about me and my family can be viewed on the JAABlog. The comments posted on the JAABlog about Michael Lynch and his criminal election law violations are truthful. In response to these attacks, I exposed the corruption between former Judge Claudia Robinson and Michael Ahearn. I obtained the public records exposing the corruption between Robinson and Ahearn and provided the records to the media which lead to Robinson's removal. To be clear, I believe Michael Lynch violated Florida's election laws by illegally pooling campaign funds with other candidates and paying for illegal election expenditures.  Ahearn has publicly threatened to “destroy my family” as a result of me exposing the corruption with Ahearn's judicial candidates. I have never threatened anyone on the JAABlog.

Broward Chief Judge Jack Tuter. Photo: J. Albert Diaz/ALM

Broward County Court Chief Judge Jack Tuter said he's disappointed by law professionals who engage in courthouse blogging.

“The whole idea that attorneys, judges or former judges are taking to the Internet to attack the institution is just unproductive. With a law degree, I just think you should be held to a higher standard than what I saw going on in this particular case,” Tuter said.

Attorneys with “gripes,” according to Tuter, should address them through the proper channels.

The chief judge said: “I hope it embarrasses those who are doing this to maybe be discouraged from doing it in the future, knowing that if you do crazy things, people are going to find out who you are and embarrass you, or worse, as I think some of this is possibly subject to a bar disciplinary investigation.”