Martinsburg, WV (WOAY)- An incoming delegate for West Virginia’s 91st District has been arrested in Martinsburg, charged with making terrorist threats.
The arrest follows the West Virginia State Police’s investigation into Joseph Desoto based on claims based on claims he made several threatening statements against at least two delegates.
Those two are delegate Wayne Clark from Jefferson County and delegate Michael Hornby from Berkeley County.
Those threats followed a closed meeting in the capitol on Sunday when lawmakers pressed DeSoto on potentially untruthful statements he made about his background.
That meeting allegedly upset DeSoto.
Desoto, who ran as a conservative Republican, earned the delegate position during the November 5 General Election, running against Constitution Party candidate Rick Thomson.
However, Desoto changed his party affiliation to Democrat this week.
He is being held in Eastern Regional Jail on a $300,000 bond.
In an official press release, the West Virginia State Police and West Virginia Capitol Police state threats against the government process are serious and they will not tolerate any attempt to coerce legislators.
The investigation is ongoing.
Newswatch will provide further details as they are made available.
