LANSING (WWJ) — An Ohio woman who admitted to leaving threatening voicemails for two Michigan lawmakers will spend up to five years in prison.
Sandra Bachman of Batavia, Ohio, has been sentenced to 23 months to five years in prison for the threatening calls, one of which included a "race-based and politically motivated death threat," Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.
Bachman, 61, pleaded guilty in May to charges of malicious use of telecommunication services and threat of terrorism – attempt, ethnic intimidation.
In June 2021 Bachman called former Michigan State Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson and left the threatening voicemail that started with her saying, "I'm not a violent person but I think I could slit your throat in a minute."
Her nearly 40-second voicemail included multiple racial epithets 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. You might be going grocery... boom, dead. That's the way we're gonna play this game," she said at the end of the voicemail.
That voicemail came just a month after a similar incident involving another legislator, Michigan Sen. Sarah Anthony, who was in the state House of Representatives at the time.
Bachman also pleaded guilty to one count of malicious use of telecommunication services in connection with the call to Anthony. She is set to be sentenced for that incident next month. Per the plea agreement, the sentence will be concurrent with the sentence for the Johnson voicemail.
"Threats made against elected officials are serious offenses and cannot be normalized," Nessel said, per a press release. "No public servant should have to sacrifice their own safety while working to serve the constituents they represent. My office remains committed to prosecuting these crimes to the fullest extent of the law."
Michigan State Police investigated the incidents before referring the matter to the Nessel's office.
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