Lexy Gross

@lexygross

An Indiana man has been arrested and charged with felony intimidation for allegedly posting a video threatening presidential candidate Donald Trump and members of his family.

Richard Deville Jr., 26, of Clarksville is accused of making threats against Trump, his wife and daughter in a video. Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson said the suspect in the video talks about his disagreements with Trump on issues such as "immigration and minorities," among others. The suspect appears to be holding loaded firearms.

"That’s not political speech, it’s not free speech, that’s criminal speech because he’s threatening someone’s life," Henderson said during a press conference Thursday.

Deville is currently in the Floyd County Jail, and Henderson said in that he is expected to be arraigned Friday.

Deville was charged with level five felony intimidation and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious, violent felon - a level four felony in Indiana. The prosecutor's office also has filed a petition to revoke Deville's current probation on a 2009 Class B felony burglary charge.

Henderson said the U.S. Secret Service contacted the prosecutor's office about a potential threat against Trump. According to the probable cause affidavit, the threat was posted on a YouTube video and investigators were able to track it to a New Albany address.

Trump's campaign could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday. But the news came as the Trump campaign disavowed a former butler Thursday for declaring in a Facebook post that President Barack Obama should be killed. The Secret Service said it is investigating that claim.

In the Indiana case, Henderson said that "it was more of a general threat" and didn't include specific information about where or when a threat could be carried out. Trump is expected to attend the National Rifle Association's convention in Louisville this month.

The affidavit says a Secret Service agent talked to Deville about the threat when he was detained by New Albany police for a domestic violence situation. He asked for Deville's phone number, which the investigator said matched the IP address associated with the YouTube video. After the agent showed Deville the four-minute YouTube clip, he admitted it was him in the video.

"Deville told me that he produced the video and posted it to YouTube because he thought it would make him look cool," the affidavit states.

Henderson said, and the affidavit states, that neither handgun in the video is believed to be owned by Deville.

Henderson said Thursday the video was found by an Atlanta, Ga., resident who contacted the Secret Service. He said there are no other suspects involved at this time, and it appears Deville made the video on his own.

"Our country stands for freedom of speech, but it absolutely cannot tolerate someone’s life being threatened because they run for office and have a difference of views on issues," Henderson said.

If convicted, Deville could face between two and 12 years for the weapons charge and from one to six years for the intimidation charge. If his probation is revoked, he could be sentenced to additional time.

Reporter Lexy Gross can be reached at 502-582-4087, or via email at lgross@courier-journal.com.