A San Francisco man identified by the District Attorney’s Office as Mr. Casperson is facing a slate of felony charges, including criminal threats and stalking, and is set to be arraigned at the Hall of Justice, where prosecutors say they will push to keep him locked up pending trial because of what they describe as a public-safety risk.
In a post on X, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said the criminal complaint charges three felony counts of making criminal threats in a “sensitive area” and one felony count of stalking. According to the post, the complaint also carries hate-crime enhancements and an allegation that the defendant personally used a deadly weapon. The office noted that charges have been filed but the investigation is still active.
2/ Mr. Casperson is charged with 3 felony counts of making criminal threats in a sensitive area, 1 felony count of stalking. The criminal complaint also alleges hate crimes enhancements & personal use of a deadly weapon.
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) June 16, 2026
Charges and statutes
Under California law, criminal threats are prohibited by Penal Code §422, which makes it a crime to willfully threaten someone in a way that causes the person to experience sustained fear, according to California Legislative Information. Stalking is defined in Penal Code §646.9 and can be charged either as a misdemeanor or as a felony depending on the circumstances, per Shouse Law Group.
The DA’s post also refers to hate-crime enhancements that, under Penal Code §422.75, can add time to a felony sentence if prosecutors prove the crime was motivated by bias, according to California Legislative Information.
Next steps in court
The District Attorney’s Office says the defendant is scheduled to be arraigned yesterday at the Hall of Justice. In its post on X, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office wrote, “Our office will move to have Mr. Casperson detained pending trial w/o bail due to the public safety risk he poses.” The office added that the investigation is ongoing and that no additional details are being released at this time.
Legal implications
If the allegations are ultimately proven, felony convictions for criminal threats or stalking can lead to prison terms and other long-term consequences, depending on the specific statutes and facts involved. Hate-crime sentencing enhancements under Penal Code §422.75 can add an extra one to three years, and separate allegations for the personal use of a weapon can trigger additional consecutive time under the Penal Code’s weapon-enhancement provisions; Shouse Law Group provides an overview of those enhancement rules. The defendant is presumed innocent and prosecutors must prove the charges in court.
Local context
San Francisco prosecutors have recently pursued hate-crime allegations in other cases, including charges tied to antisemitic and anti-gay graffiti at a local church earlier this year, as reported by J. Weekly. The San Francisco Police Department’s hate crimes unit advises anyone who experiences or witnesses a potential hate incident to call 9-1-1 or reach out to the department’s Hate Crimes division and the District Attorney’s hate-crime hotline. Those contacts and resources are listed on the SFPD website.
