Incoming West Virginia state lawmaker arrested after allegedly threatening to kill fellow lawmakers

An incoming West Virginia state lawmaker was arrested Thursday after he allegedly threatened to kill different state lawmakers.

Joseph de Soto, who was elected in November to function a delegate within the West Virginia Home, was arrested by troopers early Thursday morning after an investigation confirmed he “had made a number of threatening/intimidating threats towards authorities officers,” West Virginia State Police Lt. Leslie T. Goldie Jr. mentioned in a press release.

“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats towards authorities course of severely,” Goldie Jr. mentioned. “Any individual making these threats used to intimidate, disrupt, or coerce the members of our West Virginia legislature or different governmental our bodies won’t be tolerated.”

He was charged with one rely of threats of terrorist acts, a felony, and the bond was set at $300,000.

A witness advised police on Wednesday that de Soto was upset following a current assembly the place Republican state lawmakers mentioned whether or not to expel him from the caucus, in keeping with a grievance shared with NBC Information by an official with the Berkley County Fee. It is unclear what prompted the dialogue and de Soto had not but been sworn in.

The witness on Tuesday spoke on the telephone to de Soto, who detailed the assembly and mentioned “he was going to kill delegates,” in keeping with the grievance. The grievance named a handful of Republican state lawmakers, together with Speaker of the West Virginia Home of Delegates Roger Hanshaw, as targets.

Hanshaw did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

“When requested what he meant by utilizing the phrase ‘kill,’ he suggested God referred to as him to kill them,” the grievance mentioned.

In an electronic mail offered to police by the witness, de Soto wrote that the delegates “can all go to hell, I’ll ship them there as commanded.” A textual content message the witness offered to police additionally confirmed that de Soto mentioned, “I did say I’m going to kill individuals I mentioned I’m going that’s obligatory to place them from workplace.”

The witness advised police that de Soto “has a mood and might turn out to be very offended,” the grievance mentioned.

“Mr. DeSoto has been very upset over issues which have been occurring with the political group and issues that he believes are being mentioned towards him and feels that he’s being attacked and compelled out of his place,” the grievance mentioned.

Protection lawyer Jacob Mills advised NBC Information that his agency, Prison Regulation Heart Kevin D. Mills & Associates, is representing De Soto, who he mentioned “is presumed to be harmless.”

“He has entered a plea of not responsible. My agency shall be presenting his case in courtroom and count on his vindication,” Mills mentioned.

West Virginia Republican Celebration chairman Matt Herridge in a press release criticized de Soto’s actions and mentioned the occasion helps his expulsion.

“Our elected officers sacrifice loads to serve their communities, and it’s a travesty for anybody to face the extra burden of threats made towards themselves and their households,” Herridge mentioned in a press release.