Woman, 43, Sentenced For Threatening MN House Speaker Lisa Demuth

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN — A 43-year-old Hugo woman was sentenced Thursday to three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to threatening a Minnesota House leader in a string of voicemails left earlier this year, according to the Washington County Attorney's Office.

Rachel Marie Welsch pleaded guilty in July to one felony count of threats of violence.

Washington County District Judge Juanita C. Freeman stayed imposition of sentence and ordered Welsch to complete 180 hours of community work service, have no contact with the lawmaker or her staff, refrain from possessing firearms, and complete mental health programming, among other conditions.

According to the criminal complaint, the Minnesota State Patrol began investigating in January after Welsch left near daily voicemails on the office lines of two state representatives.

The messages focused on current political issues and grew increasingly threatening over time. Welsch was ultimately charged in connection with messages left for House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is also running for governor.

In her first message to Demuth, Welsch said she planned to come find her, telling the Speaker "wherever you are, you should be wondering when we are going to come," according to the complaint.

She left a second message that day saying she would track the Speaker down.

State troopers visited Welsch's home on Jan. 2 to discuss the voicemails. Welsch acknowledged leaving them but asked the troopers to leave when one asked whether she intended to harm Demuth, the complaint states.

The messages continued.

On Jan. 8, Welsch referred to Demuth as a traitor and asked what happens to traitors historically, according to the complaint.

On Feb. 11, she referenced the earlier visit from troopers, telling Demuth there was no bulletproof glass between them and that she would "be there at the end of that barrel."

On Feb. 24, Welsch left a message saying she looked forward to seeing Demuth in person on the campaign trail and described improving her marksmanship through firearms training classes, offering to send a photo demonstrating her skill.

The Washington County Attorney's Office charged Welsch on Feb. 26 with one count of felony threats of violence. She pleaded guilty on July 6.

At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Demuth delivered a victim impact statement telling the court that disagreement with elected officials should never escalate to threats or violence.

She said the calls, which her staff also had to hear, caused fear for herself, her family and her staff, and that she hoped Welsch would get the mental health treatment she needs. Demuth said she would not seek restitution.

Assistant Washington County Attorney Nick Hydukovich, who leads the office's criminal division, had asked the court for five years of probation and 300 hours of community service.

He told the court that threats like Welsch's have always been illegal, but said the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, along with the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman, have raised the stakes for public officials.

He said Demuth agreed to let Welsch perform community service in place of jail time so she could give back to the community.

County Attorney Kevin Magnuson said in a statement that threats against public officials have always been illegal, but that recent political violence in Minnesota means they can no longer be dismissed as empty words.

He said Minnesotans are free to disagree with elected leaders but not to threaten them, and thanked the State Patrol for its investigation and Demuth for addressing the court.

Under the sentence, Welsch must complete three years of supervised probation through Washington County Community Corrections, finish at least 60 of her 180 community service hours within the first year, avoid contact with Demuth or her staff, stay away from firearms and explosives, follow all mental health treatment recommendations including prescribed medication, and complete a cognitive skills evaluation.