A Vandalia man charged with threatening a public official made an appearance in Fayette County Court on Tuesday. 30-year old Tad A. Keeling appeared with public defender Bill Starnes for a preliminary hearing. After being advised of his rights, Keeling waived a preliminary hearing as well as formal arraignment in the matter. A plea of not guilty was entered by Keeling as well as a jury trial demand. Keeling will make his next appearance in court on January 23 at 9am. Keeling is charged with one count of threatening a public official, as information states Keeling allegedly “knowingly conveyed indirectly to the Vandalia Police Department, public officials a threat, being a video post to Facebook, containing a threat to burn down the homes of police officers employed by the Vandalia Police Department, and the threat was made because of hostility of the defendant toward the status or positions of the officers employed by the Vandalia Police Department.” The charge is a Class 3 felony, punishable by two to five years in prison.