An Orange County man charged with terroristic threat against Speaker of the House Dade Phelan has been released on bond from the Jefferson County Correctional Facility, according to the jail’s inmate roster.
Daniel Troy Leblanc, 44, of Orange, was released Aug. 15 on a $500,000 bond posted through A United Bail Bonds of Nederland. As customary, a non-refundable $50,000 payment was needed to secure that amount of bond.
After his January arrest, Leblanc’s bond was set by Jefferson County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr., who also ordered that, if Leblanc posts bond, he must avoid all contact with Phelan and wear a GPS ankle monitor.
In recent weeks, Leblanc petitioned the Criminal District Court, under Judge John Stevens, to seek bond reduction. After a hearing, the bond remained the same.
District Attorney Keith Giblin confirmed Leblanc was released on the original $500,000 bond and condition that he remain under house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor.
Leblanc’s latest legal troubles began Jan. 14, when Leblanc, under the username D.T. Lbc, posted a message to the Southeast Texas District 21 state representative on Facebook:
“And Ain’t NOBODY protecting these Kids and GIVING THEM A VOICE... I AM..RIGHT NOW...ONE SHOT...ONE KILL....2500M AWAY...0230...IN YOUR RIGHT TEMPLE TAKING OUT THAT AI MUSKY GYM SOCK SMELLY CAT SOCK DARK HOLE RA MIND YOU HIDE WITHIN... FATHER KNOW YOUR NEXT 12 Moves, The CHRIST KEEPING ME 9 AHEAD WITH THIS BREATH...Come at me... let's get this ASS WHOPPING over with Baphomet Cowardice, you just act as if like Victoria you convinced...sicko.”
Phelan staff members, concerned for the Speaker of the House’s safety, notified DPS about Leblanc’s post, according to Special Agent Matthew Cryer. The next day, following an investigation, special agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division arrested veteran Marine Leblanc for suspicion of making terroristic threats against Phelan on social media.
A month later, Feb. 21, Leblanc was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury and charged with terroristic threat of a public servant, a third-degree felony, according to court documents.
Leblanc, currently a construction worker, was previously accused of terrorizing his ex-wife, who was granted a restraining order against her former husband, as well as public servants working at the courthouse where he would encounter his ex.
According to court records, in March 2023, DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Lt. Adam Park became involved in a “threat to life” investigation involving Leblanc. Park reported that he received intelligence that Leblanc had arrived at the Jefferson County Courthouse for a child support hearing wearing a 9mm pistol; a .357-magnum pistol was discovered in Leblanc’s vehicle. Pursuant to the March 2023 incident, Leblanc was arrested for a bond forfeiture and Jefferson County Mental Health deputies served an emergency detention order to evaluate Leblanc’s mental health.
While in custody at the correctional facility since the beginning of this year, LeBlanc continued to post to his Facebook page by sending messages and phone calls to his new wife, Mandi Leblanc, whom he married in January 2022. He has six children with his ex-wife and Mandi has two of her own.
According to court records, Leblanc made 1,600 calls during his seven months in jail. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) reported inmates are charged 16 cents a minute for a phone call and 50 cents a minute for a text. Inmates have access to computer tablets to communicate with family members but are not allowed to post on social media.
According to JCSO, they are in the process of answering a complaint that Leblanc’s family filed with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards concerning communication from the jail.
Leblanc and his ex-wife divorced in 2019 and the court ordered him to pay $1,300 per month in child support. According to attorney Jolei Shipley, the ex-wife’s attorney, Leblanc owes almost $80,000 in back child support. Where he could get the money to post a $500,000 bond, Shipley was unsure, but hoped that the father could get money together to pay for the care of his children, as well.
Leblanc and his ex-wife were in a hearing in 279th Civil District Judge Randy Shelton’s court on Aug. 21 to clear up language involving visitation rights for the children after they divorce. Leblanc represented himself during the hearing.