Capitol News

Federal charges have been filed against a New Hampshire woman who allegedly threatened a Wayne County canvasser through text messages.

Katelyn Jones, 23, was accused of texting threats to the Wayne County Board of Canvassers chairwoman after the election last month. The woman allegedly sent photographs of a bloody, mutilated female body to the canvasser.

The Epping, N.H., resident was charged with making violent threats via interstate commerce, after an investigation by the FBI. 

The criminal complaint noted that the threats were made against Monica Palmer after she voted against certifying the election results. Palmer is a Republican. 

Palmer was scrutinized for her decision and even attempted to rescind her vote.

"The allegations in this case should make all of us disgusted,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement, The Detroit News reported. “There is simply no place in Michigan, or in the United States, for chilling threats like this to people who are simply doing what they believe is correct.”

Jones was released on bond today after a videoconference hearing in New Hampshire federal court. She will attend a videoconference in Detroit federal court on Jan. 13. 

The news media reported that the threat charge Jones was accused of could mean up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a $250,000 fine.

The texts to Palmer called her a racist and said it wasn’t hard to find all of her personal information.

"I don't tolerate people like you, in fact I consider you to be a terrorist and do you know what happens to terrorist," the text read, adding Palmer's name, the Detroit News reported.

The messages were then followed by photographs of a dead, bloody and mutilated woman that was lying on the ground, the news media reported.