The Hood County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local activist for posting a meme.
Kolton Krottinger, a community activist from Granbury, was arrested on November 5 for “online impersonation,” according to jail records.
“It’s for posting a meme,” his defense attorney, Rob Christian, told The Dallas Express. “After 25 years of experience as a district attorney and criminal defense attorney, I have never seen anyone get arrested for engaging in political speech.”
The sheriff’s office booked Krottinger into jail for felony “online impersonation-name/persona create page” in the third degree, jail records show. State law bans using “the name or persona of another person” to “harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person.”
Krottinger was accused of making posts to Facebook that appeared to come from another local political activists, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Dallas Express.
“The Victim stated that the Facebook post in question appears as if it was made by the victim, showing support for Monica Brown for the Granbury ISD school board election,” the complaint reads.
Officials claimed Krottinger made the Facebook post without consent, “with the intent to defraud the general public against the peace and dignity of the state,” according to the complaint.
Krottinger had apparently posted a satirical meme on October 2, depicting another local activist posting on Facebook in support of then-candidate Brown.
“Like she was supporting a political candidate she would never support, because she very openly, loudly, and publicly hates her,” said Hood County Constable John Shirley to The Dallas Express.
Local residents suggested this was the reason for Krottinger’s arrest. The Dallas Express could not confirm this directly in time for publication, but it appears to align with the complaint’s description.
The Dallas Express reached out to the sheriff’s office. Lt. Joshua Lane repeatedly declined to comment and would not confirm whether or not Krottinger was arrested for the October 2 meme.
“Unfortunately, this is still an active investigation; therefore, no information is available for immediate release,” Lane said to The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express also reached out to the Hood County District Attorney’s Office, but a staff member declined to comment. She said the office could not share more information until the case is indicted or closed.
Krottinger runs the Hood County Breaking News community Facebook page. He also runs the Blue Branch Historic Ranch – a veterans’ mental health center in Granbury, which the state Senate honored this year for working with servicemembers and first responders. He is active in local politics, having interviewed candidates ahead of the November 4 elections.
State Board of Education Member Brandon Hall represents District 11, which includes Granbury. He expressed concern to The Dallas Express about Krottinger’s arrest.
“Reports that Kolton Krottinger was arrested for posting a satirical meme are extremely troubling,” Hall said. “We are still waiting for all of the facts to come out, but we must stand against any infringements of the First Amendment right to free speech.”
As a constable, Shirley is responsible for serving civil and criminal papers across Hood County precinct 2 and for providing court security.
Shirley is also active in local politics. Shirley has drawn scrutiny as a former member of the Oath Keepers, a group of public officials who swear to disobey unconstitutional orders. Some left-wing groups consider this an “extremist” group.
Shirley said he thinks the October 2 meme was obviously a joke.
“It’s a picture of a political sign that anybody who knows the person whose account this was pasted onto would know that it’s fake and a joke,” he said.
He expressed concern about the constitutional implications of arresting someone for a meme.
“I’m outspoken about the First Amendment. I believe in the Constitution, I believe in the Bill of Rights,” Shirley said. “This kind of stuff really smells of authoritarianism.”
Nate Criswell, former chair of the Hood County Republican Party, launched petitions on Change.org and GiveSendGo to drop the charges against Krottinger.
Criswell told The Dallas Express he thinks deputies arrested Krottinger for challenging establishment officials. He claimed officials in a local “Good Ol’ Boys Club” deny their political opponents First and Fourth Amendment rights.
“Every year the list of conservatives arrested on bogus charges grows longer,” Criswell said.
Shirley said the Texas Rangers investigated him in 2019, after officials claimed that he had improperly used his county computer. Investigators reportedly cleared him of wrongdoing.
Deputies arrested Steve Biggers, then-chair of the Hood County Republican Party, in 2024 for tampering with a government record after allegedly driving a vehicle with an expired permit, according to Hood County News. This year, a party committee chair was arrested for allegedly providing a false address in connection with election fraud.
Shirley said he thinks this was about “abuse of power.”
“This is a really ugly thing going on,” he said.
Should the sheriff’s office or district attorney’s office comment, The Dallas Express will update this article accordingly.