TL/DR –
An Ohio woman, Sandra Bachman, has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for leaving threatening voicemails to two Michigan lawmakers. Bachman pleaded guilty to charges of malicious use of telecommunication services, threat of terrorism attempt, and ethnic intimidation. One of the voicemails for former Michigan State Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson started with “I’m not a violent person but I think I could slit your throat in a minute,” and included multiple racial epithets and overtly racist comments.
Ohio Woman Sentenced for Threatening Michigan Lawmakers
Sandra Bachman of Batavia, Ohio, has been sentenced to a prison term of 23 months to five years for leaving threatening voicemails for two Michigan lawmakers. The threats included a “race-based and politically motivated death threat,” according to an announcement by Attorney General Dana Nessel.
61-year-old Bachman pleaded guilty to charges of malicious use of telecommunication services and threat of terrorism – ethnic intimidation. In June 2021, Bachman targeted former Michigan State Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson with a voicemail that started with the disturbing threat of physical violence.
The voicemail, which lasted nearly 40 seconds, was filled with multiple racial slurs and overtly racist comments. “You thought you’d threaten us? Well, we don’t threaten. We’re gonna kill ya. We’ve got long-range shooters,” she said at the end of the call.
Additionally, Bachman threatened Michigan Sen. Sarah Anthony in a similar incident a month prior to the Johnson voicemail. Subsequently, Bachman pleaded guilty to one count of malicious use of telecommunication services related to the call to Anthony. She is due to be sentenced next month for this offence, with the sentence running concurrently with the one for the Johnson voicemail.
“Threats against elected officials are serious offences and should not be normalized”, Attorney General Dana Nessel stated. Michigan State Police investigated the incidents, before directing the case to the Nessel’s office.
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