A jury in Mesa County found Tina Peters guilty on Monday of seven out of ten criminal charges related to a security breach that occurred in her office during the spring of 2021. Peters served as the Mesa County clerk and recorder.
The jury reached its decision shortly after the closing arguments concluded. Peters was convicted of three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one felony count of criminal impersonation, one misdemeanor count of official misconduct, one misdemeanor count of election duty violation, and one misdemeanor count of failure to comply with the secretary of state. She was acquitted of two felony counts of criminal impersonation and one felony count of identity theft.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold stated after the verdict that Peters had deliberately compromised election equipment in an effort to support false claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election. She emphasized that today’s verdict sends a strong message against threats to election security.
The investigation into Peters began in August 2021, after it was discovered that sensitive data from Mesa County’s election system had been posted online. In 2022, a grand jury charged Peters for facilitating unauthorized access to the elections department and for allowing a person to copy sensitive election system software during an update.
Peters was accused of collaborating with outside individuals aligned with former President Donald Trump to falsely suggest that the election equipment was compromised. Peters did not comment following the verdict but indicated she would speak later.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Peters opened her office to outsiders, resulting in the security breach. They highlighted connections to individuals such as Kurt Olsen, associated with election conspiracy theories, and others who helped orchestrate the infiltration of the elections department.
The prosecution presented evidence that Peters had manipulated staff and even sought security clearance for unauthorized personnel to access sensitive areas. They detailed how her decisions led to a significant breach in election security.
Defense attorneys attempted to portray Peters as a sympathetic figure whose actions were misunderstood. They argued that she believed she was aiding a government agent and questioned why other key figures, including the individual who gained access, were not called to testify.
In response, the prosecution reiterated that Peters had acted with criminal intent and highlighted a series of suspicious behaviors leading up to the breach, including the shutting off of surveillance cameras and the use of encrypted communications to avoid detection.
The Colorado Attorney General commended the legal team involved, citing the verdict as a stern warning against tampering with election security. Peters is set to be sentenced on October 3.