Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and charged with making terroristic threats

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A newly elected West Virginia lawmaker is facing at least one felony charge and is accused of making terroristic threats.

Joseph de Soto, 61, was arrested by state police in Martinsburg Thursday following an investigation that found he made “several menacing/intimidating threats against government officials,” according to a statement from Lt. Leslie T. Goldie Jr. from the State of West Virginia. Police did not provide details about the threats or who they were directed at.

One of de Soto’s alleged targets was West Virginia Republican House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, WVDM television reported, citing a criminal complaint.

De Soto was elected to his first term in the West Virginia House as a Republican, representing part of Berkeley County in the eastern part of the state, in November, receiving 72 percent of the vote in the general election after defeating two other Republicans in the primary from May.

De Soto did not immediately return a phone call or email seeking comment Thursday. The case is still under investigation, state police said.

West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge said Thursday that state Republican officials “disavow and condemn” de Soto’s actions.

“Our elected officials sacrifice much to serve their communities, and it is a travesty for anyone to face the additional burden of threats made against themselves and their families,” he said in a statement.

De Soto changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat on Wednesday — a day before his arrest, said Mike Queen, a spokesman for the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Queen said that while officials are allowed to change party affiliation after being sworn in, the office is looking into whether a candidate elected under one party’s banner can switch to another before officially taking office.

“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats against the government process seriously,” said Goldie Jr. “Any person who makes these threats used to intimidate, disrupt or coerce members of the legislature of our West Virginia or other government bodies will not be tolerated.”

If convicted, de Soto faces a maximum fine of $25,000 and three years in prison.