Ohio woman pleads guilty in threats against lawmaker
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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — An Ohio woman who left threatening and racist-laced voicemails for a state lawmaker has entered a guilty plea in Ingham County Circuit Court for her actions.
A Michigan State Police investigation of voicemails left in June 2021 by Sandra Bachman, 61, of Batavia, OH led Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to charge her in March 2022. Bachman was charged with leaving voicemails for then-State Reps. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Cynthia A. Johnson (D-Detroit).
The Office of the Attorney General reports in a news release that Bachman entered a guilty plea to “one count of Threat of Terrorism – Attempt, a 5-year felony, one count of Ethnic Intimidation, a 2-year misdemeanor, and one count of Malicious Use of Telecommunication Services, a 6-month misdemeanor.”
The deal requires Bachman to write a letter of apology to Johnson as well as participate in ongoing mental health assessments and treatment.
A news release from the Office of the Attorney General announcing Bachman’s original charges and arraignment reveals she was originally charged with “one count of false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony; one count of ethnic intimidation, a two-year felony; and two counts of telecommunications services – malicious use, a six-month misdemeanor.”
Here are the transcribed messages the Office of the Attorney General said in a news release were left by Backman:
The Department alleges Bachman left a threatening voicemail for Rep. Anthony in May 2021. The message said:
“Hay um, need to cancel that bill against the vets, you little traitor. And, um, you won’t see the bullet coming, let me tell you that. So, stop this sh*t and you’re fired. We’ll be coming to Michigan soon to remove you from your post.”
The Department also alleges Bachman left a threatening voicemail for Rep. Johnson in June 2021. An excerpt of the message, which has been censored, included:
“Well, baby-doll, n***a lip b***h, monkey, we are going to get you. You will die. You are one of the worst offenders. We actually have a tier too, in like points for how much you are worth once we kill you…. You’re going to die and I’m happy about it. The whole world will be rejoicing, just know that. Sleep well.”
Office of the Attorney General Dana Nessel, News Release March 15, 2022
She will be sentenced on June 26 by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk.
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