(WWJ) A Detroit man charged with a 20-year felony for threatening to kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel has pleaded guilty — with a caveat.
On May 15, 2020, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged 34-year-old Robert Sinclair Tesh with False Report of Threat of Terrorism.
On Wednesday, Worthy said Tesh entered a plea in the case before Judge Margaret Van Houten, pleading guilty as charged but mentally ill.
Under the statute, Worthy said the judge must be satisfied that the defendant "has proven by a preponderance of the evidence" that he was mentally ill at the time of the commission of the offense.
According to an earlier release by prosecutors, it's alleged that, on April 14 of last year, Tesh "communicated through a social media messenger with an acquaintance making credible threats to kill" the governor and the AG.
Later that day, Detroit police arrested Tesh at his home in the 2100 block of Jefferson in Detroit.
The charge against Tesh came amid reports that Whitmer was the target of dozens of death threats from people unhappy about her stay-at-home order and other executive actions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In announcing Tesh's plea, Worthy again stressed the seriousness of making such threats.
“The facts in this case were very disturbing. We understand that these times can be stressful and upsetting for many people. But we will not and cannot tolerate threats like these against public officials who are carrying out their duties as efficiently as they can,” said Prosecutor Worthy. “You can disagree with their positions or their methodology, but you absolutely cannot act as this defendant acted or you will be charged criminally.”
Prosecutors have not released further details about what Tesh allegedly said.