A Fayette man is in the Howard County Jail facing two felony charges of harassment after he allegedly threatened and verbally assaulted Fayette school personnel.

Cordell Robert Trimble, 64, is charged with two counts of first-degree harassment, both Class E felonies that carry sentences of up to four years in prison if convicted.

According to a probable cause statement filed with the court, Fayette police officer Brandon Abbott wrote that he witnessed Mr. Trimble yelling at school personnel mowing grass on school property near Trimble’s neighboring property.

Mr. Trimble has disputed this property line several times in recent years, even going so far as to sue the district in small claims court last November after he was banned from school property for allegedly swearing at staff and students. The court in February ruled in favor of the district.

Mr. Trimble resides on Spring Street, and his yard borders school property by the right field of the softball diamond.

Mr. Trimble is charged with harassment after officer Abbott witnessed him attempting to stop personnel from mowing on August 24. The district alleges the behavior has been ongoing since at least June 2024.

Early on September 8, Mr. Trimble allegedly threatened to kill another member of the school district at the bus barn. He allegedly stood across from the bus barn cussing, being upset about the lights and noise, and about district personnel staying out of his yard, the statement explained.

Mr. Trimble is also accused of removing a post placed on school property to construct a fence, and placing sticks in the path of the lawnmower.

Mr. Trimble pleaded not guilty during an arraignment held on September 9. He remains in custody at the Howard County Jail on $5,000 cash-only bonds for each of the two counts. The bond amounts remained unchanged following a bond reduction hearing Monday morning in Randolph County before Judge Garreth Cooksey.