Joseph Roy Ozment, a 35-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, has been charged with a third-degree felony following a series of violent threats directed at the Governor’s Office. According to authorities, Ozment left a profanity-laden voicemail on July 25 explicitly threatening to stab staff members in retaliation for legislation he claimed was blocking his access to anime content.
The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the caller via a cell phone registered to Ozment. The affidavit indicates that the recipient of the call, a state employee, expressed genuine fear for the safety of their colleagues and the public, leading to the felony charge of terroristic threat against a public servant. If convicted, Ozment faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and significant financial penalties.
While the specific legislation cited by the suspect remains unconfirmed, the threats appear to stem from recent state efforts to enforce strict age-verification protocols for online content. Texas has implemented several measures, including 2023 laws requiring age verification for adult websites and Senate Bill 2420, which mandates that app stores verify user age before allowing downloads. These regulations have caused intermittent access issues for various digital platforms in the state.
Despite the frustrations expressed in the voicemail, major dedicated anime streaming services such as Crunchyroll and HIDIVE continue to operate normally within Texas. The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences surrounding the harassment of public officials, regardless of the underlying grievances regarding digital accessibility.
