It is rare to see a local government official trade a quiet life in Grand Junction, Colorado, for a prison cell in Pueblo. But for Tina Peters, that is exactly where the road led. Honestly, it feels like a Lifetime movie script—except the consequences are very real and the legal fees have cost Mesa County taxpayers over $1.4 million.
If you are trying to figure out what did Tina Peters do, you have to look past the political noise. It wasn't just about "asking questions" or "checking the machines." According to a Colorado jury and a rather stern district judge, it was about a calculated, multi-step plan to breach secure election equipment by using someone else's identity.
The Secret Update and the "Mystery Man"
Back in May 2021, Mesa County was scheduled for a "trusted build." This is basically a standard software update for voting machines performed by the Secretary of State’s office. It’s supposed to be secure. Very secure.
Tina Peters, who was the elected County Clerk at the time, was worried. She believed—without evidence that has ever held up in court—that the state was going to use this update to delete files and hide election fraud from 2020. So, she took matters into her own hands.
She didn't just walk in and take a look.
First, she ordered the security cameras in the election office to be turned off. Then, she took a security badge belonging to a local man named Gerald Wood. But Wood wasn't the one who used it. Instead, Peters gave that badge to Conan Hayes, a former professional surfer and associate of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
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Hayes was introduced to staff as a new "consultant." He was allowed to stay in the room while the state technicians performed the sensitive software update. He took photos. He took video. He basically saw the "guts" of the system that are supposed to be off-limits to anyone without a high-level security clearance.
Why this mattered so much
When you give an unauthorized person access to a "trusted build," you break the chain of custody. Think of it like a crime lab. If a random person walks in and starts touching DNA samples, the whole case is ruined. In this instance, the Secretary of State had to decertify the Mesa County machines because their security could no longer be guaranteed.
The photos Hayes took didn't just stay in a drawer. They ended up online, shared at "cyber symposiums" and on conspiracy websites. Passwords for the voting machines were suddenly public.
The Courtroom Drama and the 9-Year Sentence
Fast forward to 2024. After years of delays, grand jury indictments, and a whole lot of podcast appearances by Peters, the case finally went to trial. In August 2024, a jury in Mesa County—which, it's worth noting, is a pretty conservative area—found her guilty on seven of the ten charges brought against her.
These weren't just "slap on the wrist" charges. We're talking about:
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- Three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant
- One felony count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation
- Misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and violation of duty
When it came time for sentencing in October 2024, Judge Matthew Barrett didn't hold back. He called her a "charlatan" and a "hero to no one." He was clearly frustrated by her lack of remorse, noting that she seemed more interested in "fawning" fans and her own fame than the actual duties of her office.
The final tally? Nine years. She was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, followed by six months in jail. She was taken into custody immediately, right there in the courtroom.
The 2026 Update: Appeals and "Pardons"
So, where are we now in early 2026? Things have somehow gotten even weirder.
Peters is currently serving her time, but her legal team has been working overtime. Just a few days ago, on January 14, 2026, her lawyers were back in a Colorado appeals court. They’re arguing that she shouldn't have been convicted because she was technically "doing her duty" under federal law to preserve election records.
The judges seemed a bit skeptical. One judge asked the obvious question: if she thought she had the authority to bring Hayes in, why did she need to lie about his identity and use someone else's badge?
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Then there's the "Trump factor." In December 2024, Donald Trump issued a "pardon" for Tina Peters. The problem? He was President-elect (or President, depending on the timeline of his authority) at the time, but the U.S. President cannot pardon state-level crimes. Only the Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, can do that.
Interestingly, Governor Polis recently hinted that he might consider clemency because of Peters’ age—she’s 70 now—and her health. But the Colorado Secretary of State and other election officials are begging him not to, arguing it would basically give a green light to other officials to break the law if they don't like an election's outcome.
Key Evidence and Specifics
- The Badge: Gerald Wood testified he was given a badge by the county but handed it back to Peters. That badge was then used by Conan Hayes.
- The Cameras: Emails confirmed Peters ordered the surveillance turned off days before the breach.
- The Cost: Mesa County had to spend roughly $1.4 million on legal fees, extra staff, and replacing the compromised voting equipment.
What happens next?
If you're following this case, the next big milestone is the ruling from the Colorado Court of Appeals. If they uphold the conviction, Peters will likely stay in prison unless Governor Polis decides to step in with a state-level pardon or a commuted sentence.
What you can do to stay informed:
- Check the official court records: If you want the raw data, the Colorado Judicial Branch website lists the filings for Case No. 22CR112.
- Monitor local Colorado news: Sources like The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel or Colorado Public Radio are the best bets for real-time updates on her appeal status, as they have reporters physically in the courtroom.
- Understand the law: Look up the "Colorado Uniform Election Code" if you want to see exactly which rules were cited in her misconduct charges; it helps clear up the "intent" vs. "action" debate.