Inspired by unproved notions of local ballot-box foul play conducted by U.S. Representative Randy Weber (R-Beaumont), a Southeast Texas native and self-proclaimed “servant of the most-high God” issued a series of death threats to the elected official.
Former congressional competitor Keith Douglas Casey now faces federal charges for his murderous rhetoric. The Eastern District of Texas Department of Justice federally charged Casey in two cases filed Dec. 7, according to a probable cause affidavit penned by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) special agent assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Beaumont.
“I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch,” Casey reportedly told a Weber staff member on a Beaumont radio show – referring to the representative’s perceived malfeasances.
Raucous on the radio
A member of Weber’s staff was taking phone calls at a Beaumont radio station March 29, when Casey called to air his grievances, including a direct threat to take the congressman’s life.
Weber’s staffer said before the call came in at about 8:45 p.m., Casey had already made “several” trips to the radio station over the past month and a half, “exhibiting threatening behavior,” the affidavit alleges.
The dissatisfied candidate made comments about needing to “get them,” as well as “We’re gonna kill them,” in reference to Governor Greg Abbott and Congressman Weber.
Noting that the investigator submitted information to get a search warrant and not “every fact known” to them concerning this investigation, the DPS agent revealed that Casey took his complaints from the radio to the courthouse by Aug. 10. He traveled to the Jefferson County Courthouse that day, insisting he had an appointment with County Judge Jeff Branick.
“Jefferson County Mental Health Deputy Steve Hinton reported that Casey identified himself to Deputy Hinton as a ‘prophet’ and ‘servant of the most-high God’ and advised that he had an appointment with (Branick),” reads the affidavit. “Casey agreed to speak with a qualified mental health professional and stated he recently ran against Congressman Randy Weber and won, but, through election fraud, he was ‘exiled’ from office.”
“Casey advised Deputy Hinton that the meeting with Judge Branick was to deliver a message he had downloaded to his brain. Deputy Hinton noted that Casey presented with delusional thoughts and specific homicidal ideations. Casey stated that he heard voices and complained of electronic harassment by the government (wiretapping). Detective Hinton documented that Casey had access to weapons and was pictured holding a firearm in his campaign brochure for U.S. Congress.”
Deputy Hinton assessed that Casey needed immediate physician-directed intervention and stabilization. Specifically, Deputy Hinton advised that Casey was homicidal with specific plans and presented himself as a danger to others to the degree that he should be detained.
Officials considered Casey a threat to public safety due to his mobility, access to weapons, and his perceived ability to carry out his plans, reported the DPS investigator.
The conviction and determination with which Casey spoke further heightened concern and prompted the execution of an emergency detention order that would allow a licensed physician to perform a secondary evaluation and observation. Accordingly, officers escorted Casey to a local hospital for inpatient care.
Four months later, on Dec. 5, the investigator received a call from a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detective with a report that Casey was back to offering more menacing statements.
According to a new witness to his erratic behavior, this time in front of a Nederland business in November, Casey was “moving in and out of the vehicle in an erratic manner.” That prompted the curious citizen to approach Casey to check on his welfare. Casey took the opportunity to complain that “the election was stolen from him,” before informing the stranger that he had a gun and was “going to take (Weber) down.”
DOJ prosecutors filed two charges against Casey for making threats against a United States official, with the crimes dated March 29 and Nov. 10.
Casey could face up to a decade in prison, with a fine of no more than $250,000, for threatening to murder a U.S. official. His second charge, for threatening to assault a U.S. official, could earn him no more than six years of prison and another fine not to exceed $250,000.
Murder-mulling ‘man of God’
According to information found via archive searches of Casey’s now-offline congressional campaign website, Casey touted himself in 2016 as a: “Blessed man of G-d, whose wealth is counted as the network of people who has crossed his path and he has crossed theirs. Touched deeply by his Scouting experience in his youth… Eagle Scout… Lodge Chief and Vigil honor member (Order of the Arrow)… High Adventure Explorer Post with which he canoed over 2,000 miles of white water rivers in our nation. A ‘business doctor’ who has turned around 3 companies that were in bankruptcy or were headed in that direction. An accountant by profession who is keenly aware that the greatest asset of any organization is the people within it and the true ‘bottom line’ is the value of the service they render.”
Casey’s website reports that he: “Aided our ‘intelligence community’ immensely in our war on terror soon after 9/11. Have been persecuted by said community every (SP) since my service to them. I now know too much.”
“I have been uniquely prepared to serve the 36th district of Texas, a region in which I grew up and know very well and whose people I consider to be my family. Over the last ten years, my education has been rather intense regarding the dark side of our federal government. I am ready to engage the enemies of our nation, both internal and external, and return our nation to the adherence to the constitution written by our founding fathers.”
Hearing delayed
Defense attorneys moved to delay a Dec. 14 motion for detention hearing, according to information from Judge Christine Stetson’s courtroom. Judicial officials have yet to set Casey’s new court date.
As of press time, Casey was in custody.