Tecumseh man faces federal indictment for allegedly threatening Arizona political official

Walter “Butch” Hoornstra, 50, of Tecumseh, was indicted last week in a federal case in which he reportedly threatened an Arizona election official. 

Hoornstra, who has served as Gainesville School District technology director for several years, is now facing one count of communicating an interstate threat, which carries a maximum prison term of five years, and one count of making a threatening telephone call, which could result in a two year prison term.

“This is an unfortunate incident for Butch, who… has no prior criminal record,” defense attorney Joe Passanise told media outlets recently. “He is a technology professional, husband, father and grandfather who is also a disabled combat veteran who defended his country during Operation Desert Storm. He is truly embarrassed and humbled by the attention this has brought him and his family. The sheer awesome power of the federal government can be incredibly intimidating to any citizen once charged… Mr. Hoornstra entered a plea of not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. We look forward to reviewing the government’s case moving forward.”

Gainesville Superintendent Justin Gilmore declined to comment on the matter.

“This is a personnel issue, and I can’t discuss it,” Gilmore told the Times. 

According to federal prosecutors, Hoomstra was upset with comments made by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer about Arizona’s audit of the 2020 presidential election results, and in response, he left a threatening voicemail. 

“So, I see you’re for fair and competent elections. That’s what it says here on your homepage for your recorder position you’re trying to fly here. But you call things unhinged and insane lies when there’s a forensic audit going on,” Hoornstra reportedly said in a May 19, 2021, voicemail to Richer, according to federal prosecutors.

“You need to check yourself. You need to do your [expletive] job right because other people from other states are watching your ass,” Hoornstra allegedly said in the voicemail. “You [expletive] renege on this deal or give them any more troubles, your ass will never make it to your next little board meeting.”

Richer told the Arizona Mirror that the voicemail by Hoornstra and dozens more like it were left on his cell phone after former President Donald Trump amplified the “baseless” claim that county election officials deleted electronic files.

A company called Cyber Ninjas released a report after the audit that failed to show that Trump was cheated of the victory in Arizona.