A federal grand jury has charged a 33-year-old Ohio man with threatening to kill U.S. Vice President JD Vance during a January visit to the state, the Justice Department said on Friday.
Shannon Mathre of Toledo was indicted on one count of making a threat against a protected federal official, the department said in a statement. Prosecutors allege he threatened “to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” the vice president.
According to the Justice Department, Mathre said he was “going to find out where he is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him.” Authorities did not disclose where or when the statement was made, or to whom.
U.S. Secret Service agents arrested Mathre on Friday. He made an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of Ohio the same day and was ordered held in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 11, the department said.
The charge stems from alleged threats made ahead of or during Vance’s visit to Ohio in January. The Justice Department did not specify the exact date of the visit, the location within the state, or whether Mathre had any direct contact with the vice president or his staff.
Under U.S. law, it is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on the president, vice president, or other protected officials. If convicted, Mathre could face up to five years in prison, court records show.
In its statement, the Justice Department said investigators discovered “multiple digital files of child sexual abuse materials” in Mathre’s possession while examining the alleged threat against Vance. It was not immediately clear whether separate charges related to those materials had been filed as of Friday.
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The department did not release further details about the digital files, including how they were found or whether they formed part of the evidence supporting the threat charge. It also did not say whether Mathre had retained a lawyer. Court records did not immediately list defense counsel.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of threats against senior U.S. officials, particularly in the wake of past attacks and attempted attacks on political figures. The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, vice president and other officials, routinely investigates threats and works with federal prosecutors to bring charges where appropriate.
The alleged threat against Vance follows another security incident reported earlier this year involving the vice president’s family. In early January, Vance said that a man had tried to break into his Ohio home by hammering on the windows. Vance and his family were not at the residence at the time, according to U.S. media reports.
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Local authorities took a 26-year-old man into custody in that incident, media outlets said. Officials did not publicly link that case to Mathre or to the threat alleged in Friday’s indictment.
The Justice Department’s statement did not suggest any connection between the two incidents, and it did not indicate that Mathre had approached the vice president in person or attempted to travel to an event where Vance was present.
Threats against federal officials are investigated by the Secret Service and, when warranted, referred to the U.S. attorney’s office for prosecution. In many cases, authorities assess not only the language of a threat but also the suspect’s access to weapons, intent, and steps taken toward carrying it out.
Prosecutors in the Northern District of Ohio are handling the case. The office did not immediately respond to questions about whether additional charges were expected or whether Mathre would be released on bond pending trial.
At Mathre’s initial court appearance, the magistrate judge advised him of the charge and his rights, and set the detention hearing date, the Justice Department said. A detention hearing allows a judge to determine whether a defendant should be held in custody before trial or released under conditions.
The indictment itself is a formal accusation and does not constitute evidence of guilt. Mathre is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The Justice Department said further details would be addressed at future court proceedings. It did not provide information about when the alleged threat was communicated, whether it was posted online, sent by message, or delivered verbally, or whether any specific venue or event was named.
The Secret Service declined to comment beyond the Justice Department’s statement.
Vance, a former U.S. senator from Ohio, became vice president earlier this year and maintains a residence in the state. His public schedule includes frequent travel within Ohio and to other states.
Threat cases involving high-ranking officials often move quickly through the courts because of the security implications, but the Justice Department did not give a timeline for when Mathre’s case might proceed to arraignment or trial.
Mathre remains in federal custody pending the detention hearing on February 11, according to the Justice Department. Further proceedings will determine whether he is held without bond or released under supervision as the case moves forward.