Former Arizona Sen.Kyrsten Sinema’s former bodyguard and romantic partner was arrested earlier this month in Maricopa County after allegedly breaking into her home and damaging $200,000 worth of artwork and expensive alcohol.
The incident took place on Aug.30 while Sinema was out of town, according to charging documents.
Matthew Ammel, 39, allegedly contacted Sinema and demanded that she post a video to her X account.He told her that if she declined to do so, he would damage a painting every 10 minutes, according to the documents.Sinema told law enforcement officers that she refused, prompting Ammel to take down about 22 paintings and throw them into the swimming pool, according to a probable cause statement.
One of the paintings was spray-painted with black lettering and left near the front entrance, Sinema told authorities.She also reported finding shards of glass from broken alcohol bottles scattered throughout her house and inside the pool.Ammel was arrested Sept.
17 after being released from a mental health facility, according to the probable cause document.It was not immediately clear when Ammel entered the facility or why he was admitted.
He was charged with aggravated criminal damage and has been released on his own recognizance.Ammel is due to appear in court in early October.
It is not clear whether Ammel has retained a lawyer.This is not the first time Sinema and Ammel have made headlines.Earlier this month, a North Carolina judge ruled that the former senator could be sued under the state’s “home-wrecker” law over her relationship with Ammel, who was married at the time of their relationship.
North Carolina is one of a handful of states that allow spurned spouses to sue for “alienation of affection” and to seek compensation from a third party responsible for the breakup of their marriage.The law gives aggrieved spouses up to three years to sue.
Proceedings are separate from divorces, and jilted spouses must show that the accused “to...