Joshua Russell of Bucyrus, Ohio, had pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2023
PHOENIX — An Ohio man who acknowledged making death threats in voicemails left for then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs during the 2022 election season has been sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison.
The judge, who read Russell's profanity-laden threats aloud in court, said Russell had accused the victim of being a terrorist, while he was threatening her life. He rejected Russell's characterization of his actions as immature."None of these people deserved it," the judge said. Earlier this month, a Massachusetts man was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for making an online threat to bomb Hobbs' office in February 2021 when she was still the secretary of state.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to send Russell to prison for 2 1/2 years, saying Russell's threats caused deep fear and apprehension for Hobbs and employees of the secretary of state's office and that election workers should be able to do their jobs without fear and intimidation. In a document written by Russell and submitted to the court, Russell described his situation at the time he made the threats, saying he was depressed and angry and that his drug use fueled his isolation.
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