Texas (KTRK) – A man is facing felony charges after being accused of threatening the Texas governor’s office over an age restriction state lawmakers put in place on his favorite anime platform
“It’s affecting everybody, even over the age of 18,” said Joseph Ozment.
Ozment watches anime on a website called Crunchyroll. He logged on a few weeks ago to watch a show but was met with this age restriction.
Ozment said he tried to verify his age, 35 years old, but the restriction wouldn’t go away.
That’s when court documents say he allegedly called the governor’s office.
“I had a mental breakdown at the end of the day; I allegedly left a voicemail. I don’t even remember what I said during the thing,” Ozment said.
In the last couple of years, Texas has passed a number of laws restricting access to adult content.
SB 20, passed in 2025, was meant to cut back on animated and AI-generated child pornography.
Critics worried the broad law would impact anime websites like Crunchyroll, which Ozment said is not an adult website.
According to a Travis County arrest warrant, Ozment left a short but expletive-filled voicemail on July 25 in which he allegedly said he would stab everyone if the age restriction was not removed.
“To be honest, I don’t even feel like that was the exact words that I said. I don’t know, I would have to listen to the recording over again,” Ozment said.
The arrest warrant said an employee in the governor’s office notified law enforcement because they were alarmed and in fear for their safety.
Ozment says someone tried to call him about the voicemail. When he didn’t call them back, he was arrested at home in Houston.
“I kept asking over and over, what is this about, what is going on, why are we even doing any of this,” Ozment said.
Ozment was booked into the Travis County jail, charged with impeding a public servant, causing fear of severe bodily injury, and influence of government, a third-degree felony.
Ozment bonded out and returned to Houston, where he said he felt the state overstepped.
“I’m not saying it is justified, but two wrongs don’t make a right.”
