ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — An Orange County man has been indicted after making threats against House Speaker Dade Phelan.
44-year-old Daniel Leblanc was arrested on January 17, 2024 by special agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) after making the threats.
Leblanc made the threat in a post on his Facebook account, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Phelan's staff notified special agents after he said that he felt threatened, the affidavit states.
RELATED: Orange County man arrested, charged with making terroristic threat against Speaker Dade Phelan
Leblanc was arrested in Bridge City, and charged with terroristic threat which is a felony offense, according to Judge Ben Collins.. He was later brought to the Jefferson County Jail.
Judge Collins set Leblanc's bond at $500,000 for the threat.
Judge Collins also ordered a GPS monitor to be put on Leblanc and if he makes bond he is forbidden to have contact with Speaker Phelan.
Statement from Speaker Dade Phelan:
Unfortunately, this sort of threatening language is the direct result of a yearlong campaign of disinformation by my opponent and his out-of-town allies. It is one thing to disagree with me in the political arena, but I am first and foremost a father and husband, and this threatening language directly impacts my family. I thank the Texas Department of Public Safety and our local law enforcement for working to keep my family safe and for their around-the-clock efforts to maintain the sense of security in our communities.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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