OAKLAND — An El Cerrito man who allegedly sent threatening and racist emails to Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, including his intent to kill and torture her, has been formally charged with a felony count, according to authorities and court records.

David Pokorny, 45, who was arrested Oct. 7, has pleaded not guilty to a felony count of threatening state officials or judges with an enhancement of it being a hate crime. The criminal complaint alleges Pokorny “did willingly, unlawfully and knowingly threaten the life of, and threaten serious bodily harm” to Lee.

He is scheduled to have a pre-trial hearing Wednesday and was being held in lieu of $70,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail.

The alleged threats were made via emails to the mayor between Sept. 7 and Sept. 21, according to court documents.

Pokorny’s first email sent Sept. 7 used a slur to refer to Black Oakland residents and threatened widespread violence against Lee and the Black community, claiming he had a “legal right” to commit those acts, according to court records.

“I think we should kill all of the government officials in Oakland and all of the police officers and judges in Oakland as well,” the email said, according to court records. “I would like to play a video game about killing the police officer, judges and (expletive) in Oakland.”

Another email to the mayor, sent on Sept. 21, stated: “You are a psychopath, and I’m going to torture and murder you.”

Lee and her staff deemed the threats credible and reported them to police.

“Violence has no place in our city or our democracy,” the mayor said in a statement through her spokesperson on Tuesday. “Intimidation and hate will not silence Oakland public servants or the communities we represent.”

A spokesperson for the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Pokorny, declined to immediately comment on the case.

If the suspect posts bail, the conditions of his release forbid any contact with the mayor, including “personal, electronic, telephonic and written” communication. He must also stay 100 yards away from the mayor and Oakland City Hall, according to the out-of-custody conditions.

The emails were sent from an unnamed Google subscriber, but police were able to determine the account was Pokorny’s and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to court records. He was arrested Oct. 7 by U.S. Marshals in Southern California.

He has refused to talk to investigators and pleaded not guilty at his Oct. 10 arraignment.

Elected in April, Lee took office in a year that has seen both a rise in political violence across the country and a high-profile campaign of retribution by President Donald Trump against his enemies.

Lee, a longtime progressive East Bay political icon, has not been shy in her criticisms of Trump, who in August named Oakland among the cities where he would consider deploying the National Guard to combat crime — though he has not actually ordered troops here.

A former longtime congresswoman, Lee was on the floor of the House of Representatives on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of protesters attempted to break into the legislative chamber.

“We will continue to do the people’s work,” her office said Tuesday, “regardless of circumstances.”

Reporter Jakob Rodgers contributed to this report.