A federal grand jury has indicted an Ohio man accused of threatening to assassinate Vice President JD Vance, with investigators also uncovering alleged child sexual abuse material during the probe.
The Justice Department announced Friday that U.S. Secret Service agents arrested 33-year-old Shannon Mathre of Toledo, Ohio, following an indictment tied to threats made during the vice president’s recent visit to the state.
According to federal prosecutors, Mathre allegedly made explicit threats in January while Vance was in northwest Ohio, prompting an immediate investigation by federal authorities.
“I am going to find out where he is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him,” Mathre allegedly said, according to charging documents released by the DOJ.
The alleged threat was made around Jan. 21 or 22, coinciding with Vance’s appearance in the Toledo area, though prosecutors did not specify how the statement was communicated.
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Mathre earlier this week, charging him with threatening the vice president and related offenses.
During the investigation into the threats, law enforcement uncovered additional evidence leading to more serious charges.
Prosecutors say Mathre was found to be in possession of digital files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Authorities further allege he distributed and received child sexual abuse materials between December and the time of his arrest.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the discovery significantly escalated the severity of the case, per Trending Politics.
“While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials,” Blanche said.
“Thank you to federal, state and local partners for working together to bring justice twofold to this depraved individual,” he added.
Mathre was taken into custody and booked into the Lucas County jail following his arrest.
He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Ohio on February 6 and remains behind bars pending further proceedings.
A detention hearing has been scheduled for February 11 to determine whether Mathre will be held without bail while the case moves forward.
Federal officials emphasized that threats against elected officials are treated with the utmost seriousness, particularly amid heightened security concerns.
The arrest comes weeks after a separate security incident involving the vice president’s family residence.
In that case, a 26-year-old individual allegedly traveled to Vance’s Cincinnati home and attempted to gain entry.
That suspect was charged with offenses including physical violence in restricted grounds, property damage, and assaulting law enforcement officers.
Vice President Vance and his family were not home at the time of that incident, according to authorities.
The Justice Department has not linked the two cases but cited them as examples of ongoing threats against public officials.
Officials say the investigation into Mathre’s alleged crimes remains active as prosecutors prepare for upcoming hearings.
If convicted, Mathre could face decades in federal prison due to the combination of threat and child exploitation charges.
