DAGGET — A 22-year-old Dagget Township man has been linked to threats made against the Delta County Board of Commissioners, as well as other public officials in the Upper Peninsula.

According to information released by Menominee County Prosecutor Jeffery Rogg, Peter James Sand, of W5036 County Road 358 in Dagget, confessed to the threats against Delta County commissioners Dave Moyle, Bob Barron, and Bob Petersen, following his arrest Tuesday for threats made to the Menominee County Prosecutor’s Office earlier this year.

One Feb. 1, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office Det./Sgt. David Ashby was made aware that the Menominee County Prosecutor’s Office had received a voicemail overnight that stated, in part, “how could you defend Brian Helfert? You tried to give him … a plea deal … you’re going to pay the price. Just wait until I get my hands around your f–ing throat.”

A second voicemail was left on Feb. 15, that included the caller saying, “You useless piece of s–t … I’m going to beat you into a pulp, Jeff Rogg. I will Hurt you bad. … Believe me, you’re nothing but dead meat to me Jeff Rogg.”

During the investigation, a number of search warrants were executed for telecommunication companies. According to the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, Sand took numerous measures to conceal his identity, but the calls were ultimately traced to Sand.

A search warrant was issued to search Sand’s residence Tuesday, April 9, which led to his arrest. After his arrest, Sand confessed, in detail, to making the threats against Rogg, as well as the City of Marquette’s Clerks Office and Moyle, Barron, and Petersen.

“(Menominee County Sheriff’s Office) Detectives consider those cases solved based on their work,” Rogg said in a press release.

According to a press release issued by the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office prior to Sand’s arraignment Wednesday, threats were also made to Gold Resource Corporation, formerly Aquila Resources, the company behind the proposed Back Forty Mine project in Menominee County.

The threats against the Delta County commissioners took place on Thursday, March 7, around 11 p.m. Moyle, Petersen and Barron received emails containing only the message “Resign now or you will die next week.” The sender used a virtual private network (VPN) to mask his IP address, and other information that would have made him easily identifiable.

The email came from hicks@pissoff.com, and the sender name included with the email was “Chuck Hicks.” It is unknown if Sand’s pseudonym was an intentional reference to the late actor and stuntman known for playing The Brow in 1990s “Dick Tracy” and whose television work included “Dallas,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “The Rockford Files,” and the 1960s “Batman” series.

All three commissioners who received the email are the subject of a recall effort that will culminate with a special election on May 7. The commissioners have speculated that the individual responsible for the threats was associated with the group responsible for the recall, the Delta County Citizens for Ethical Leadership. While it is possible that Sand sympathized with the group, he is a citizen of Menominee County, would be unable to sign petitions for the recalls or vote in the May 7 election, and is not visible in the membership list for the Delta County Citizens for Ethical Leadership Facebook page.

“I don’t know anything about him or what his beef is with me or my commission, but this is a way of life for some people,” said Moyle upon learning of the arrest. “There is no place in politics or civilized anything for people like this to be threatening people and terrorizing people. This is domestic terrorism, and they must be dealt with harshly or we’re going to lose our quality of life. People are going to be afraid to run for office.”

No charges have been announced against Sand in Delta County. He was arraigned before Judge Robert J. Jamo in the 95-A District Court of Menominee Wednesday for charges related to the threats against the Menominee County Prosecutor’s Office. Sand faces one count of False Report or Threat of Terrorism, one county of Terrorism – Using the Internet/Telecommunications to Commit, and one count of Computers – Using to Commit A Crime. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

“Acts intended to influence or affect the conduct of government through intimidation or coercion will not be tolerated and such persons will be held accountable,” Rogg said. “I plan to recuse myself (as the nominal victim in Menominee) and due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the alleged conduct, ask the Michigan Attorney General to prosecute these matters.”

Bond for Sand has been set at $250,000, cash or surety. Attorney Diane Kay Hougeboom was appoint to represent him.

As Jamo has a professional relationship with the Menominee County Prosecutor’s Office, he has also recused himself from the case. The Michigan State Court Administrator’s Office will assign a new judge and the probable cause conference and preliminary examination will be scheduled for a later date.