Probationer denies threatening cop’s life

A Columbus man accused of violating a judge’s order to have no contact with his wife by allegedly calling her from jail several times is now also in trouble for allegedly threatening the life and family of a Columbus police officer.
Fredrick Allen Hajek, 36, appeared in 22nd Judicial District Court May 26 and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of intimidation, three felony counts of violating an order of protection, two misdemeanor counts of violating an order of protection and one misdemeanor count of criminal contempt.
Hajek was arrested on May 5 and remains in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility on $25,000 bond.

THE CASE
According to court documents, a permanent order of protection was issued by a judge in December 2015 that prohibits Hajek from coming within 500 feet of his wife and his children or using a third party to do so, unless pre-authorized by the Child & Family Services Department of Health and Human Services (CFS).
Prosecutors allege that in May 2016, authorities became aware that Hajek’s wife and children were having contact with him at a relative’s house. CPS learned of the contact through the children, who said it was a secret because if anyone knew their father would go to jail, according to court documents.

When interviewed by CPS, the wife denied the children had any such contact but Hajek admitted to CPS that he had seen the children on one occasion and did tell them it was a secret.
When the wife was told of Hajek’s admission, she admitted that she and the children had seen him and that Hajek had been in contact with her through phone calls, according to court documents.
On the same day that the wife made the admissions to CPS, Hajek told CPS he was “signing his rights away to his children.” Later that day, the wife called CPS to report Hajek had just been at her house, according to court documents.
Columbus Police Officer Austin Wells responded and questioned Hajek, who was nearby at a different house. Hajek denied having been at the wife’s house. The ex-wife told Wells that Hajek had been there and when she told him to leave, Hajek threw a piece of paper inside that stated he had signed away his parental rights, had just filed for divorce and apologized, according to court documents. Wells and sheriff’s deputies went to Hajek’s house and arrested him for violating the order of protection.
Hajek became very aggressive, cursed at the officers and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, according to court documents.
Hajek also threatened Wells, saying “I know where you live. I know where your kids are. I know your wife, yeah, you better watch it,” according to court documents. After Hajek was booked into jail, he told Wells “You’re a dead man, you’re dead.”
Hajek also made reported phone calls from jail to his wife.
Prosecutors are also seeking to revoke Hajek’s 2014 criminal endangerment sentence based on the above alleged probation violations.

CRIMINAL HISTORY
In 2014 Hajek was sentenced to seven years with the Montana Department of Corrections with five years suspended for one felony count of criminal endangerment for an August 2013 incident in which he admitted to swearing and threatening his wife, which caused her reasonable fear of bodily injury. He was originally charged with felony assault with a weapon for allegedly threatening to cut her throat, according to court documents and previous court testimony.
While free on bond and awaiting sentencing in that case, Hajek violated District Judge Blair Jones’s order to stay away from his wife by going to the family home and trying to take away the couple’s two small children, who he claimed he was concerned about. The wife called 911 and officers found Hajek in the home hiding under a bed with his feet sticking out.
Jones imposed a tougher sentence than what had been jointly recommended through a plea agreement between prosecutors and Hajek.
A DOC probation/parole officer had recommended a 10-year DOC sentence with five years suspended based on Hajek’s history of victimizing family, his inability to adhere to release orders and because his chemical dependency issues that had not yet been addressed, according to court testimony and court documents.