ENCINITAS — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has submitted a criminal investigation into a threatening voicemail directed at City Councilmember Marco San Antonio to the district attorney’s office for review, sheriff’s Lt. Mike Davis said Thursday.
No arrests have been made, and authorities have not publicly identified a suspect.
“I can’t say if we have a suspect, but the DA wouldn’t take the case if we didn’t,” Davis told The Coast News.
In a statement to The Coast News, San Antonio described receiving multiple voicemails containing slurs and a threat.
“I recently received deeply disturbing voicemails containing explicit racial slurs, hateful language, and a threat of physical harm,” San Antonio said. “As the son of Filipino immigrants who grew up here in Encinitas, this was particularly troubling. My family has called this community home for decades, and we are proud to be raising the next generation here.”
The voicemail transcribed by The Coast News included a threat of physical violence, repeated references to “MAGA” and racial and homophobic insults. San Antonio reported the message to the sheriff’s office on Oct. 5.
“Next time I see you around, I’m going to f–k you up, bro,” the caller said in the voicemail. “Fu-king MAGA f-ggot. For real.”
Delivered in a mix of English, Spanish and Filipino, the message attacked San Antonio’s perceived political affiliations and demanded that he leave office.
“You, Marco San Antonio, you’re nothing but a bitch-ass f–king redneck wannabe,” the caller said. “They don’t care for you, bro. MAGA is a f–king piece of sh-t.”
The caller also accused San Antonio of supporting a “child lover” and insinuated that San Antonio was one himself before saying, “Get the f–k out of office.”
San Antonio, the first Filipino to serve on the Encinitas City Council, said the caller used “bakla” as an anti-gay insult and another Filipino term that he described as equivalent to the N-word.
“I immediately reported the voicemails to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, which has completed its investigation and referred the matter to the District Attorney’s Office for review,” San Antonio said.
Davis said the sheriff’s office conducted a formal criminal investigation after San Antonio brought the threatening voicemail to law enforcement’s attention.
Davis cited four potential offenses: threatening an elected official with death or serious injury under Penal Code Section 76; threatening a public officer to influence official duties under Section 71; making criminal threats under Section 422; and making obscene or threatening phone calls or electronic communications with intent to annoy under Section 653m.
Davis did not specify which charges investigators submitted and declined further comment pending the district attorney’s review.
“I appreciate the professionalism and diligence of the Sheriff’s Department in investigating this matter,” San Antonio said. “I have confidence in the legal process and will allow it to proceed without further public comment on the details. My focus remains on serving the residents of Encinitas and fulfilling the responsibilities they have entrusted to me.”
San Antonio was appointed to represent District 4 in 2025 after the district’s previous representative, Bruce Ehlers, was elected mayor. He is seeking election to the seat against Brad Lefkowits, who condemned the threat.
“I condemn all threats of violence and all forms of bigotry. They have no place in our community. Councilmember San Antonio and his family deserve to feel safe. Any threat should be taken seriously. I’m glad this is in the hands of the Sheriff’s Department, and I trust them to investigate,” Lefkowits said in a statement.
Davis said he was not aware of any other similar incidents and that the sheriff’s office would announce an arrest if one is made.
