Mesa County judge orders arrest of indicted clerk Tina Peters, revokes bond

A Mesa County judge on Thursday issued a warrant for Clerk Tina Peters’ arrest and for her to be held in jail until her trial, following discovery that she traveled out of state in violation of her bond conditions.

Mesa County District Court Judge Matthew David Barrett issued the warrant and revoked Peters’ $25,000 cash bond.

Peters, a Republican, was indicted by a grand jury in March, with allegations including attempting to influence a public servant and criminal impersonation. The case stems from a security breach she allegedly facilitated in the Mesa County elections office.

Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein filed the motion to revoke Peters’ bond Wednesday evening after he learned that Peters was in Las Vegas to speak at a Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association conference Tuesday. There is video and photo evidence of her at the conference July 12. Additionally, she signed a letter to Secretary of State Jena Griswold on July 12 seeking a recount of the June 28 Republican primary for secretary of state, which Peters lost. That letter was notarized in Clark County, Nevada.

“The defendant was not permitted to go to Las Vegas, NV during this time for two reasons. First, the defense never asked to go during this time. Second, even the travel that was requested was not granted until the People’s objection was resolved, per the order on July 11, 2022,” his motion reads.

Peters filed a notice to travel on July 8, which did not indicate her travel to Las Vegas on July 12 and 13. Rubinstein objected to that notice and objected to Peters traveling without prior approval from the court. While Peters was more freely able to travel as a secretary of state candidate, since her loss she is obligated to seek court approval for travel like any other criminal defendant.

“The people believe that Ms. Peters needs to be treated like all other criminal defendants on bond and needs to file a motion asking for a modification of her bond conditions, and get permission from the court prior to traveling. Ms. Peters has less motivation to appear in court now that she is no longer a candidate. Additionally, she has evidenced through her travel prior to the election that she has the means to flee if she wants to,” Rubinstein wrote in his objection to her notice of travel.

Peters told a KRDO reporter that she submitted her travel itinerary and that Rubinstein’s actions are retaliation for her criticism of him.