Last Friday, Chad Young, 50, of
Hillsdale, pled guilty in the 1st Circuit Court in Hillsdale County to Assault
on a Public Officer, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The plea
accompanies a sentencing agreement stipulating a 3-year term of probation, the
first nine months to be served in the county jail.
Young was charged last April with one count of Making a False Report or Threat of Terrorism for threatening Hillsdale County Sheriff Scott B. Hodshire after a complaint filed by Young did not result in criminal charges. In the audio message left for Sheriff Hodshire, Young threatened to “gut” the Sheriff for his actions in relation to Young’s case.
“We entrust our public safety officials to make certain decisions for our communities. Residents are welcome to disagree with those decisions, but responding to disagreements with death threats is a serious crime,” said Nessel. “When promises of violence are made against elected officials, my department’s Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism unit will not hesitate to bring appropriate charges.”
Other terms of Young’s probation include substance abuse and mental health evaluations, and a prohibition on contacting the Sheriff and his deputies. Sentencing is scheduled for March 11.
