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A 40-year-old Converse man, Benny Caldera Jr., was arrested on September 30, 2026, after authorities received a report about an alleged threat against the Texas State Capitol. Federal prosecutors announced a charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number; the charge and the alleged threat are not proof of guilt.
What authorities say happened
In an October 1, 2026 announcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas said Caldera allegedly told another person on September 29 that he was going to the Texas State Capitol in Austin and would “shoot it up.” The release also says he allegedly expressed anger toward the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). These statements are allegations described in the criminal complaint, not established findings. The Justice Department’s announcement contains the federal account.
How the arrest and federal charge unfolded
According to the Justice Department, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report, obtained state arrest and residence-search warrants, and arrested Caldera at his home on September 30 with FBI assistance. The DOJ release says agents allegedly found a loaded .357 revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun and six 9mm rounds. The complaint alleges that the revolver’s serial number appeared to have been filed off.
Federal prosecutors announced a charge of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The release said Caldera was scheduled for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney. It stated that a conviction could carry up to five years in prison; that is the maximum cited in the announcement, not a sentence or prediction of the outcome.
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Was Caldera released on bond?
Public accounts reported by The Texas Tribune conflict. DPS disputed online claims that Caldera had been released on a $75,000 bond, while Bexar County Jail records showed “released on bond” with a $75,000 amount. The Tribune’s September 30 report did not reconcile the discrepancy, so those accounts do not establish a definitive custody status. See The Texas Tribune’s reporting for the attributed details.
What is known about other possible suspects?
The Tribune reported that a Senate staff email described the arrested person as the “main suspect” in a plan involving suspected co-conspirators. That is a report about what the email said, not confirmation that other people were involved. The Tribune also noted that DPS’s public arrest statement did not mention other suspects or arrests. No unnamed people should be treated as confirmed co-conspirators on the basis of these accounts.
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What officials said about Capitol security
The Tribune reported that DPS later said there was no reason to believe an ongoing threat to the Capitol remained and that the department would increase its presence there during the investigation. This was DPS’s assessment at the time, not a guarantee about current or future security conditions.
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The allegation is not a finding of guilt
The DOJ release explicitly states that a criminal complaint is an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said, “This defendant is in federal custody today thanks to a perceptive and concerned citizen seeing something and saying something.” That quotation reflects the announcement on October 1; the separate public accounts about bond and custody remain conflicting.
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