GREENSBURG, Pa. — A Westmoreland County man is headed to trial after being accused of sending a bizarre picture to a judge.
Gregg Tchirkow was charged after investigators said he sent correspondence to the chambers of Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-Defazio after his release from jail.
Tchirkow was serving time after a marijuana grow operation was discovered inside his Monessen home in 2014. Bilik-Defazio presided over the case.
Investigators said Tchirkow continued to send letters after being told to stop.
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Last month, Tchirkow allegedly sent a three-part letter containing pictures of fictitious character Hannibal Lecter, from the film "Silence of the Lambs," and quotes from the movie.
Bilik-Defazio said she and her staff were terrified and deeply disturbed when she received the letter.
She told detectives she felt as if Tchirkow was threatening her with violence, nearly a year after she ordered all communication to be sent through the clerk of courts.
Tchirkow represented himself in court Thursday and told the magistrate he had imitated a scene from "The Silence of the Lambs," and wasn't trying to be threatening, but to be satirical in nature.
"My point was better transition options for guys leaving state prison so it would be easier for vocational training and resources and housing assistance and food," Tchirkow said.
He said the letter was a cry for help.
"Whenever you get out you need help acclimating to society that's it," Tchirkow said.
The case is headed to trial and will be decided by a jury.