Ohio woman accused of threatening Michigan lawmakers sentenced, pleads guilty

Lina Portman1 week ago

0 2 minutes read

A 61-year-old Ohio woman accused of leaving threatening voicemails for two Black Michigan lawmakers in 2021 this week was sentenced to prison in one case and pleaded guilty in another.

Sandra Bachman, of Batavia, Ohio, was sentenced to 23 months to five years in prison by an Ingham County Circuit Court judge, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.

“Threats made against elected officials constitute serious crimes and cannot be normalized,” Nessel said in a statement. “No public official should have to sacrifice their own safety while working to serve the constituents they represent.”

An attorney from the Ingham County Public Defender's Office representing Bachman was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Authorities charged her in May 2022 with making a false statement or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony, ethnic intimidation, a two-year felony, and two counts of malicious use of telecommunications services, each a six-month misdemeanor.

Police and prosecutors alleged that Bachman left threatening and racist voicemails for state Reps. Cynthia Johnson and Sarah Anthony.

In connection with the targeting of Johnson, Bachman pleaded guilty in May, under an agreement with prosecutors, to one count of attempted terroristic threatening, ethnic intimidation and one count of malicious use of telecommunications services, according to the Attorney General's Office.

The plea agreement also required Bachman to provide a written apology to Johnson and continued evaluation and treatment of his mental health, according to Nessel's office.

On Tuesday, she pleaded guilty in Lansing's 54-A District Court to one count of malicious use of telecommunications services, a six-month misdemeanor, in connection with leaving a threatening voicemail in Anthony, officials said.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26. Under the terms of her plea agreement, she will serve the district court sentence concurrently with the circuit court sentence, officials said.

Prosecutors alleged that Bachman left Anthony a voicemail in 2021 that said, “And, uh, you won't see the ball coming, let me tell you.” So cut this bullshit and you're fired. We will come to Michigan soon to remove you from office,” according to authorities.

At the time, Anthony was a state representative. She currently serves as a Michigan State Senator and represents the 21st District, which covers Lansing, Lansing Township, and Eaton County.

Officials also claimed Bachman left another one for Johnson that read “Well baby doll, lip nigga, monkey, we're going to get you. You're going to die. You're one of the worst offenders.” . We also have a point level for how much you are worth once we kill you… You will die and I'm happy about it, the whole world will rejoice, know that. “.

Johnson began receiving threats in 2020 after he called a witness who spoke at a hearing involving Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trump's personal attorney, when he provided testimony and witnesses during a Michigan House Oversight Committee hearing on possible irregularities on November 3. election.

She was censored in 2020 for a video posted to Facebook on December 8 in response to threats in which she asked her supporters to do “things correctly and in order” but advised Trump supporters to “be careful » and to “walk gently”. She then said, “We’re not playing games with you.” She also asked her supporters to “kick their asses” in their wallets.

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@CharlesERamirez

Lina Portman

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