TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — Tempe police have arrested a high school teacher in connection with alleged online threats against Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk, who were in the East Valley for a political rally last week.

On Tuesday, Tempe police announced that 24-year-old Daniel Ashpes was charged with multiple counts of making online threats.

Ashpes was taken into custody on Thursday, Oct. 17, after investigators were alerted to threatening messages sent in response to an automated messaging system seeking feedback on the rally at a Tempe hotel.

During an interview with investigators after his arrest, police said Ashpes admitted sending the messages.

He was taken into custody and taken to the Tempe City Jail where he is charged with three counts of threatening physical harm to another person and one count of using a telephone to threaten or intimidate.

A spokesperson for the Tempe Union High School District confirmed that Ashpes is a social studies teacher at Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee. The district released the following statement:

Mr. Daniel Ashpes is an employee of the Tempe Union High School District. He has been placed on leave as authorities investigate the current situation. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the situation, we are aware that Tempe Police have filed charges related to alleged online threats. TUHSD does not tolerate or condone any threats or harassment by employees or students.

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