A jury of twelve in Colorado found a former Republican county clerk guilty on Monday of seven criminal charges, which include a felony attempt to influence a public servant, marking another case linked to conspiracy theories following the 2020 election.

Tina Peters, 68, who has denied the 2020 election results, was indicted in March 2022. Prosecutors stated she improperly allowed an individual to copy access passwords and confidential files from a secure voting system and disseminate them online, putting the machines at risk of being hacked.

Throughout a trial that lasted nearly two weeks under Judge Matthew Barrett in Denver, the prosecution revealed that the jury found Peters guilty on three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count of conspiracy related to criminal impersonation. Additionally, she faced misdemeanor charges for first-degree official misconduct, failing to adhere to a Secretary of State order, and breaching her official responsibilities.

The jury cleared Peters of charges related to criminal impersonation, conspiracy to commit impersonation, and identity theft.

“The community has suffered deeply due to the dishonesty, lack of transparency, and Ms. Peters’ refusal to take accountability,” commented Mesa County District Attorney Daniel P. Rubinstein to YSL News early Tuesday. “Our government operates on checks and balances; no elected official or government branch is above the law or can act unchecked.”

Rubinstein expressed gratitude to Attorney General Phil Weiser for providing excellent prosecutors and investigators to assist in the case, emphasizing their collective efforts in securing a successful prosecution.

Tina Peters: First election official charged with an election security breach

Peters is recognized as the first election official to face charges for a security breach linked to unfounded conspiracy theories after the 2020 presidential election. She chose not to testify during the trial, which commenced on July 31, according to Rubinstein.

In the year preceding her indictment, Peters appeared at a “bizarre election security symposium” hosted by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell in South Dakota, where files from the Mesa County election system were showcased, as reported by the Detroit Free-Press, a part of the YSL News Network.

Prosecutors alleged that Peters stole a security badge from a Mesa County employee to assist a man connected with Lindell in accessing the county’s voter systems, promoting Lindell’s unfounded claims about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Janet Drake, a senior assistant attorney general within Colorado’s Special Prosecutions Unit, informed jurors that Peters allowed a man impersonating a county employee to make copies of the election system’s hard drive before and after a software upgrade in May 2021, as reported by KRAK-TV.

Drake pointed out that Peters appeared “obsessed with the idea of becoming a hero and impressing Lindell.”

Prosecutors further detailed that Peters coordinated with out-of-state conspirators in April 2021, deactivated surveillance cameras in May of the same year, used disposable phones and encrypted messaging platforms, and relied on private emails for communications. After becoming aware of the investigation, Peters reportedly expressed concern, saying she would “go to jail,” using profanity in her statement.

Peters’ defense attorney, John Case, contended during his closing remarks that Peters did not commit any crimes and was merely acting to safeguard election records.

Tina Peters faces potential prison time set for sentencing in October

The former Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Colorado has been urged by party officials to pause her campaign until the case is resolved. Sentencing is scheduled for October 3, according to court records.

Peters may face a prison sentence ranging from two to six years for her three felony convictions related to influencing a public servant and up to 18 months for her conspiracy to commit impersonation conviction. Each misdemeanor charge could lead to a maximum of one year in prison.

“This case was straightforward, focused on the use of deceit to perpetrate fraud,” stated Robert Shapiro, a special deputy district attorney for the 21st Judicial District, when addressing the jury.

This was part of the closing statements made on Monday. “It’s not about computers or voting records; it’s about deception aimed at misguiding and manipulating others, particularly public servants who were just doing their jobs.”

‘Taking their votes’: Peters accuses Colorado voting system and attorneys

Following the verdict, Peters took to X to accuse Dominion Voting Systems and the Secretary of State’s attorneys of “taking their votes.”

This company, located in Colorado, is responsible for the election system used in Mesa County.

“I will keep fighting until the truth that was not revealed in this trial comes to light. Today is a disappointing day for our country and the world. But ultimately, we WILL prevail,” Peters wrote. “Stay hopeful and keep praying.”

Peters’ co-defendant reaches a plea deal and testifies against her

Peters’ deputy clerk, Belinda Knisley, was also indicted by the grand jury.

In August 2022, Knisley pled guilty to misdemeanor charges including trespassing, first-degree official misconduct, and violation of duty, as per court records.

Documents from the court reveal that in the spring of 2021, Peters and Knisley plotted to disable security cameras in the room where voting machines were kept, wrongfully allowed an outside observer access by using another person’s identity, and refused to hand over documents and records to state election officials investigating a potential breach.

This operation coincided with what was supposed to be a secure software update by state officials, as previously reported by YSL News.

“From April 2021 and prior to the trusted build on May 25-26, 2021, Peters and Knisley either acted prominently or as accomplices in carrying out a deceitful scheme aimed at manipulating public servants, breaching security protocols, exceeding authorized access to voting machines, and leading to the eventual distribution of sensitive information to unauthorized individuals,” the indictment states.

It further details that the duo pretended to engage an IT consultant, misusing his name and Social Security number to pass a background check and secure a credential and badge for access, which they then handed over to an individual whose identity remains unknown so they could enter the secure area housing the machines. They also misled the regular county elections supervisor by informing her that the unknown person would replace her, thereby restricting her oversight during the incident.

Belinda Knisley confessed to ‘her involvement in the plot’

In a plea agreement, Knisley acknowledged her role in collaborating with Peters “and others” to mislead officials from both the Secretary of State’s Office in Colorado and Mesa County.

With attorneys Roy Shannon and R. Scott Reisch representing her, Knisley received a sentence of two years of unsupervised probation and was mandated to complete 150 hours of community service. Additionally, she has been permanently barred from any election-related employment, according to court records.

The scheme, “primarily orchestrated by Tina Peters, ultimately allowed an unauthorized individual to gain entry to restricted areas within the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder’s Office,” documents show. Knisley also disclosed that Peters recorded proceedings during a hearing involving Knisley and later misled the judge about it, admitting to Knisley that she had lied.

Ex-elections manager Sandra Brown also accepted a plea deal in the conspiracy

In April, former Mesa County Elections Manager Sandra Brown received a sentence of 30 days in jail followed by two years of probation for her involvement in assisting Peters with the security breach of voting equipment.

As part of her plea deal, Brown agreed to testify against Peters and was required to complete 100 hours of community service.