PEARL RIVER- Officers from the Pearl River Police Department arrested a man they say threatened to violently kill members of an area family.

The man was identified by as Melvan Pablo.

Some of the threats included raping the family's two pre-teen children. Authorities were able to obtain phone recordings and text messages of the threats.

A release from the Pearl River Police Department said, the family stayed home and kept their children from school for several days because of the threats.

During their investigation, authorities learned that Pablo was a convicted felon who had been arrested nearly 20 times. Pablo was previously arrested for aggravated assault with the intent to kill, various weapon and drug charges, endangering children, burglary, larceny and other violent crimes.

Pablo is currently being charged with terrorizing and improper telephone communications.