Ohio woman who sent death threats to Mich. Rep to serve 2-5 years
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — An Ingham County Circuit Court judge sentenced an Ohio woman who sent death threats to a former Michigan State Representative to 23 months to 5 years in prison with credit for a year served on Wednesday.
Sandra Bachman, 61, of Batavia, Ohio, pled guilty to leaving threatening, race-based, and politically motivated death threats to then-Michigan State Representative Cynthia A. Johnson (D-5) in May and June 2021 regarding Johnson’s political activities.
Bachman’s threats came at a time when Johnson had experienced months of threats after grilling former New York City Mayor Rudy Guilliani during an early Dec. 2020 hearing regarding election fraud.
On Jan. 7, 2021, Michael Varonne of Charlotte called in a false bomb threat to the state Capitol building, causing an evacuation the day after individuals invaded the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to protest the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. He pled guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail, three years of probation, and mandatory mental health treatment.
Following are the transcribed messages left in Johnson’s voicemail by Bachman, obtained from the Office of the Attorney General:
“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.”
“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
The court initially charged Bachman with the following:
One count of false report or threat of terrorism; 20-year felony
One count of ethnic intimidation; two-year felony
Two counts of telecommunications services – malicious use; six-month misdemeanor
As a part of her plea deal, the court dropped Bachman’s charge of false report or threat of terrorism. Bachman will serve her sentence on account of the remaining charges and pay a total of $316 in fines. The plea deal also required Bachman to provide a written apology to Johnson and participate in ongoing mental health assessments and treatment.
Johnson shared the apology letter she received with 6 News back in May:
To Cynthia Johnson,
I am asking for forgiveness for the atrocious phone call I made to your office. Words cannot describe how horrible I feel about causing you anquish and fear. I am getting the mental health help I need and I am in recovery for alcoholism. I would never hurt anyone and I am not a threat. I am truly sorry. Bless you and your family and I pray you can forgive me.
–May 4, 2024 Letter to former State Rep. Cynthia A. Johnson by Sandra Bachman
Johnson did not accept Bachman’s apology.
“The apology that she wrote said absolutely nothing,” Johnson told 6 News in May. “It didn’t talk about what she did, why she did what she did. Of course, anybody can say ‘I’m sorry.’ I don’t accept the apology. At all and I’m very, very disappointed.”
Johnson told 6 News that her experience with these threats caused her to have PTSD.
“The audio that she did, the phone call,” Johnson says of Bachman. “It was bone-chilling. It was racist. It was threatening. It was terrifying.”
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