A Traverse City man, 57-year-old Edward Manseau, is facing a felony charge for allegedly threatening to kill Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg.

Manseau was arraigned Friday in 86th District Court on one count of making a terroristic threat or false report of terrorism, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday. The charge is a 20-year felony.

In August, Manseau "allegedly told a social worker employed by the Traverse City Police Department that he wanted to hire someone to kill the locally elected county prosecutor," according to a release from Nessel's office. Manseau later allegedly claimed he wanted to kill the prosecutor himself.

"The number of threats of violence made against elected officials are rising across the country and, sadly, local leaders, even prosecutors, are not immune to this disturbing trend," Nessel said in a statement. "These actions cause public servants to live in fear in their own communities for simply doing their job. These threats carry significant legal consequences and my department will continue to prosecute these offenses to the fullest extent of the law."

Manseau will next appear in 86th District Court for a probable cause conference on October 23. A preliminary examination is scheduled for October 30. Moeggenberg could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

This case is being prosecuted by the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit launched by Nessel in 2019. The unit "has taken on dozens of cases involving threats against elected officials at all levels throughout the state, from local officials to lawmakers and sitting judges," according to the release. "The attorney general is urging residents to report threats, suspicious activity, and acts of bias-motivated violence to local law enforcemen and the unit." The unit can be contacted at HateCrimes@michigan.gov.