Monday, April 1, 2024 

PONTIAC, Mich. - On April 1, 2024, Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD charged Andrew Fred Hess, a 37-year-old resident of Livonia, with make a False Report or Threat of Terrorism.

Charges are related to an incident that occurred at the County Complex in Pontiac on December 15, 2023, during a recount of several local elections from November 2023. During the recount, when challenges were being filed, the defendant is alleged to have walked outside of the recount room and stated, "hang Joe for treason." This alleged statement is in reference to the Oakland County Director of Elections. An individual heard the statement made by the defendant and reported the incident to law enforcement.

"The integrity of our elections is essential to democracy," stated Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "We need dedicated, ethical public servants to conduct that process, and to do it transparently - we should invite public scrutiny. But there are individuals who seek to undermine the integrity of the election process by threatening and intimidating election workers and supervisors. Those threats don't just impact our election workers, they put democracy at risk, and they will not be tolerated. I will do everything within my power to hold those who make such threats accountable."

False Report or Threat of Terrorism is a felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $20,000.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

###

CONTACT: ocpomedia@oakgov.com