Tina Peter's sentence 'sends a strong message,' says DA Rubinstein

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – Every seat in the courtroom at the Mesa County Justice Center was filled Thursday morning as former Mesa County Clerk and Clerk Tina Peters received her sentencing.

Peters was sentenced to 9 years in prison – 8.5 years in the Department of Corrections and 6 months in the Mesa County Detention Center. She will also pay a few thousand dollars in fines.

Before her sentencing, Peters stood at the podium to ask for probation.

“I don’t deserve to be in prison. I can do a lot more good by helping people.

The prosecutor in the case, Attorney Daniel Rubinstein, said Judge Barrett’s sentence was fair.

“I think Judge Barrett’s sentence really sends a strong message that if you’re put in a position of authority and given a bully pulpit to stand up and say things, we expect you to do so responsibly and follow the law. …and recognize that no elected official holds absolute power. There are still checks and balances,” Rubinstein said.

Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis spoke in court. He said Peters cost taxpayers more than $1.4 million. That includes staffing issues at the clerk and clerk’s office, overtime staff hours at the district attorney’s office and Peters’ 16 months of salary while she was under investigation.

“During the time I spent on this case, I couldn’t work with a family who was the victim of a sexual assault case or a family who was the victim of a homicide case, and so it was really unfortunate that “There are these kinds of guarantees as a result of what she did,” adds Rubinstein.

Peters’ lawyers disagreed with the conviction. They said Peters had a head start when she checked the integrity of the voting machine.

“We don’t understand how this was calculated,” said John Case, the defense attorney.

The defense has 21 days to appeal.