A newly elected West Virginia state delegate was arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats, according to a press release from the West Virginia State Police.

“In the early morning hours of Thursday, December 12, 2024, Troopers from the Martinsburg Detachment of the West Virginia State Police arrested Joseph De Soto for the crime of Terroristic Threats,” the release states. “This arrest was made following an investigation that revealed Mr. De Soto had made several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials. This investigation is ongoing.

“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats against government process seriously. 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.”

In November, De Soto was elected to his first term in the West Virginia House of Delegates as a Republican representing part of Berkeley County. He was being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.