Current:Home > MyNewly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats -WealthMap Solutions
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
View
Date:2025-04-19 04:57:09
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A newly elected state lawmaker in West Virginia is facing at least one felony and is accused of making terroristic threats.
Joseph de Soto, 61, was arrested by state police Thursday in Martinsburg following an investigation that found he made “several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials,” according to a statement from Lt. Leslie T. Goldie Jr. of the West Virginia State Police. The lieutenant did not provide details about the threats or to whom they were directed.
De Soto was elected to his first term in the West Virginia House as a Republican representing part of Berkeley County in the state’s eastern panhandle in November, receiving 72% of the vote in the general election after defeating two other Republicans in the May primary.
De Soto did not immediately return a phone message Thursday seeking comment. A Berkeley County Magistrate Court clerk said that as of Thursday, de Soto had not yet been scheduled for arraignment. The case is still under investigation, state police said.
“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats against government process seriously,” Goldie Jr. said. “Any person making these threats used to intimidate, disrupt, or coerce the members of our West Virginia legislature or other governmental bodies will not be tolerated.”
If convicted, de Soto could face a maximum fine of $25,000 and three years in prison.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Uvalde school police officer pleads not guilty to charges stemming from actions during 2022 shooting
- Taylor Swift's best friend since childhood Abigail is 'having his baby'
- 2024 Olympics: Team USA’s Stars Share How They Prepare for Their Gold Medal-Worthy Performances
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Olympians Are Putting Cardboard Beds to the Ultimate Test—But It's Not What You Think
- Blake Lively Crashes Ryan Reynolds’ Interview in the Most Hilarious Way
- Kamala Harris: A Baptist with a Jewish husband and a faith that traces back to MLK and Gandhi
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Inside Christian McCaffrey’s Winning Formula: Motivation, Focus & Recovery
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Justice Kagan says there needs to be a way to enforce the US Supreme Court’s new ethics code
- San Diego Padres in playoff hunt despite trading superstar Juan Soto: 'Vibes are high'
- Hurry! Shop Wayfair’s Black Friday in July Doorbuster Deals: Save Up to 80% on Bedding, Appliances & More
- 'Most Whopper
- North Carolina review say nonprofit led by lieutenant governor’s wife ‘seriously deficient’
- Southwest breaks with tradition and will assign seats; profit falls at Southwest and American
- North Korean charged in ransomware attacks on American hospitals
Recommendation
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
Alabama taps state and federal agencies to address crime in Montgomery
Nashville grapples with lingering neo-Nazi presence in tourist-friendly city
She's a basketball star. She wears a hijab. So she's barred from France's Olympics team
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Blake Lively Crashes Ryan Reynolds’ Interview in the Most Hilarious Way
Rob Lowe’s Son John Owen Shares Why He Had a Mental Breakdown While Working With His Dad
F1 driver Esteban Ocon to join American Haas team from next season