ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — An Orange County man was arrested by special agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) after making threats against House Speaker Dade Phelan.
44-year-old Daniel 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.
Leblanc made the terroristic threat on multiple social media platforms, according to a DPS news release.
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.