- Terror Threat
Only on 13: Man speaks with ABC13 after allegedly threatening Gov. Abbott’s office over anime site
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ByLileana Pearson
Friday, August 7, 2026 11:18PM
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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) –A Houston man has been arrested for leaving a voicemail with the governor’s office, threatening to stab people if an age restriction wasn’t taken off his favorite anime website.
Joseph Ozment didn’t try to justify what he said, but he also didn’t walk it back. Instead, he’s claiming the state took his angry voicemail too far.
“It’s affecting everyone even over the age of 18,” Ozment said.
Ozment likes to watch anime on a website called Crunchyroll. He logged on to watch a show but was met with this age restriction. 35-year-old Ozment said he tried to verify his age, but the restriction wouldn’t go away.
That’s when court documents allege he called the governor’s office.
“I had a mental breakdown at the end of the day. I allegedly left a voicemail; I don’t remember what I said or anything,” Ozment said.
In the last couple of years, Texas has passed several laws restricting access to adult content. SB 20, passed in 2025 and meant to cut back on animated and AI-generated child pornography. Critics worried the broad laws would impact anime websites like Crunchyroll, which Ozment said is not an adult website.
According to a Travis County arrest warrant, Ozment left this short, but expletive-filled voicemail on July 25th in which he allegedly said he would stab everyone if the age restriction was not removed.
The voicemail to the Governor’s Constituent Communications line read in part:
“I don’t know which one of you sons of (expletive) passed this (expletive) bill to get this damn (expletive) blocking my (expletive) anime, but you whole (expletive) (expletive) need to unpass this (expletive). Y’all are (expletive) ridiculous with your (expletive) (expletive). My Google account says I’m (expletive) over the age of 18, and your (expletive) is passing these (expletive) laws. I’m a (expletive) stab every (expletive) one of you (expletive). Unlock my (expletive) anime.”
“To be honest, I don’t even feel like those are the exact words I said; I would have to listen to the recording over again,” Ozment told ABC13.
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 said someone tried to call him about the voicemail, but when he didn’t call them back, he was arrested at his 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, public fear of severe bodily injury, and influence of government, a third-degree felony.
Ozment has bonded out and returned to Houston, where he said he feels the state overstepped.
“It’s an overstep; it’s everything. You wasted thousand if tax payer dollars for someone who doesn’t even have a working car, for someone who doesn’t even have 200 dollars in his bank account,” Ozment said.
ABC13 reached out to the governor’s office, but has not heard back.
Court records show Ozment is scheduled to be back in court later in August.
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