San Antonio TX, August 28, 2025
News Summary
A San Antonio man, Robert Herrera, has pleaded guilty in federal court for making threats against President Donald Trump. The threats were made on social media and led to his arrest the same day. Herrera faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for December. Federal authorities are investigating the case, highlighting the seriousness of threats against the President and the role of social media in such incidents.
San Antonio — Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threats Against President
A 52-year-old San Antonio man, Robert Herrera, pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats against President Donald Trump. Federal authorities say the statements were posted on social media in July 2024, and Herrera was arrested the same day he made the comments. He remains in federal custody, faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and is scheduled for sentencing in December 2024.
Key developments
- Guilty plea entered: Herrera pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of making a threat against the President of the United States.
- Social media posts: The threat-related comments were made on July 10, 2024, on a local news outlet’s Facebook post about a planned presidential visit to the Texas Hill Country following deadly floods.
- Immediate arrest: Herrera was taken into custody the same day the comments were posted and charged federally.
- Court custody and bail: A federal magistrate judge denied a request for bail, citing the nature of the online threats; Herrera remains in federal custody.
- Potential penalty: The conviction carries up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000; sentencing is set for December 2024.
Details of the online posts and law enforcement response
Federal prosecutors report that Herrera used the Facebook handle identified by investigators to post a comment on July 10, 2024, in the comment thread of a story about the President’s planned travel. The post included an image of the President with U.S. Secret Service agents and a short message that investigators interpreted as threatening. When another user replied with an apparent hostile response, Herrera posted a follow-up message accompanied by an image of an assault rifle and loaded magazines, which investigators say further conveyed a threat.
Authorities arrested Herrera the same day and charged him with one federal count of making a threat against the President. According to his defense attorney, at the time of arrest Herrera did not possess weapons or the means to carry out the threats. Prosecutors and investigators cited the online content itself and the circumstances of the exchanges as the basis for the charge.
Investigation and prosecution
The case was announced by the U.S. Attorney for the district and is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI, with local law enforcement assistance from the San Antonio Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys identified by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court schedule and possible penalties
Under federal law applicable to threats against the President, the offense carries a statutory maximum of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Herrera entered a guilty plea and remains in federal custody while awaiting sentencing in December 2024.
Context
Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully make threats against the President. The U.S. Secret Service is charged with protecting the President and leads investigations into threats against the President, often working with federal and local partners. Public posts on social media that convey threatening language or images are subject to criminal investigation when they appear to communicate intent or capability to harm.
FAQ
What charge did Robert Herrera plead guilty to?
Herrera pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat against the President of the United States in federal court.
When were the threatening comments posted?
The comments were posted on July 10, 2024, on a Facebook comment thread related to the President’s planned travel to the Texas Hill Country following floods.
What did Herrera post online that led to his arrest?
Prosecutors say Herrera made a comment indicating he would not miss, included an image of the President with Secret Service agents, and later posted a reply showing an assault rifle and loaded magazines after another user responded.
Was Herrera armed when arrested?
According to Herrera’s defense attorney, he did not have weapons or means to carry out the threats at the time of arrest.
Is Herrera in custody and was bail granted?
Herrera is in federal custody and a magistrate judge denied his request for bail due to the nature of the online threats.
What penalties could Herrera face?
He faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2024.
Which agencies investigated and who is prosecuting the case?
The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI led the investigation with assistance from the San Antonio Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Case at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Robert Herrera, 52, San Antonio resident |
| Charge | One count of making a threat against the President of the United States |
| Alleged activity | Social media comments and images posted July 10, 2024 |
| Arrest | Arrested July 10, 2024 (same day as posts) |
| Court status | Guilty plea entered; sentencing scheduled for December 2024 |
| Possible sentence | Up to 5 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine |
| Investigators | U.S. Secret Service, FBI, San Antonio Police Department, Texas DPS |
| Prosecutors | Assistant U.S. Attorneys assigned by the U.S. Attorney’s Office |
Timeline
| Date | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Threat-related comments and images posted on a Facebook comment thread about planned presidential travel | Posted; investigators identified social media handle |
| July 10, 2024 | Herrera arrested and charged federally | Arrest and federal charge filed |
| July 13, 2024 | Context: A separate assassination attempt occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania three days later (background context) | Reported incident, context for image timing |
| Guilty plea date (court) | Herrera entered a guilty plea in federal court | Plea entered; court record |
| December 2024 | Sentencing scheduled | Pending |
Visual summary: case status
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Additional Resources
- FOX 7 Austin
- Wikipedia: Threatening the President of the United States
- KSAT News
- Google Search: Robert Herrera San Antonio Trump threat
- MSN News
- Google Scholar: Threats against the President legal case
- News 4 San Antonio
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Threats against US president
- Texas Border Business
- Google News: San Antonio Trump threat case
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