Judge Shelton Barnstead

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Judge Shenton Barnstead
Full Name	Shelton Barnstead
Alias	No information
Origin	Chick Tracts: Here Comes the Judge
Occupation	Judge
Powers / Skills	Manipulation
Hobby	Convicting
Goals	Frame Mrs. Keefer for murder (succeeded)
Crimes	Incrimination Murder Unlawful conviction
Type of Villain	Corrupt Official

Judge Shelton Barnstead is the main antagonist of the Chick Tract, "Here Comes the Judge".

Biography

Judge Barnstead is introduced as the well-loved judge of an unnamed city who regularly gives to charity. However, the tract also alludes to a "dark secret". The scene then cuts to a man named Lance Clawson murdering his friend Kyle Keefer, a detective gathering evidence on an unspecified case. After escaping, he calls Judge Barnstead, telling him that he managed to steal all the evidence Keefer had gathered against them, but that his wife saw him making his escape. Barnstead responds by having police officers plant drugs in Mrs. Keefer's house, making it look like she killed her husband during a drug-fuelled frenzy. However, the police chief tells him that Lance was arrested just after disposing of the photos.

Barnstead and his boss, the governor, arrange for Lance to be murdered in his cell, making it look like a suicide. Barnstead then presides over Mrs. Keefer's case, finding her guilty and sentencing her to 40 years in jail. This causes her to have a mental breakdown and be moved to an asylum.

Seemingly in the clear, Barnstead has a celebratory drink with a beautiful woman, getting drunk and admitting to his various crimes. The governor then discovers that the woman is a reporter, Maxine West. He orders an assassin to kill them both. The assassin blows up a restaurant that the two are meeting at, killing West and hospitalising Barnstead.

While in hospital, Barnstead is paid a visit by his servant, Conrad. Conrad tells Barnstead about Jesus's sacrifice, explaining that if he accepts Jesus he will be forgiven for all that he did. Barnstead responds by firing Conrad. Moments later, the governor's assassin arrives and assassinates Barnstead by administering a lethal injection.

Because he rejected salvation, the last panel shows Barnstead burning in Hell. It is likely that (unless they pulled a conversion) Lance and the governor also ended up in Hell.