FBI agents arrested a TUSD campus monitor, Steve Martan, age 58, in connection with threatening messages he left on her office voicemail on two occasions earlier this month. Martan, who was assigned to TUSD’s Miles Exploratory Learning Center, was released on personal recognizance and ordered to participate in a mental health treatment program and not consume drugs or alcohol.
The complaint reads:
From on or about May 2, 2017, to May 10, 2017, at or near Tucson, in the District of Arizona, Steve Martan threatened to assault and murder a United States official; that is, United States Congresswoman Martha McSally; with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Congresswoman McSally while engaged in the performance of official duties, and with intent to retaliate against Congresswoman McSally on account of the performance of official duties; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections I15(a)(l)(B) and (c)(4).
On May 2, 2017, and May 10, 2017, while in Tucson, Arizona, Steve Martan made three telephone calls to the office of 2nd District of Arizona United States Congresswoman Martha McSally. Martan made threatening statements to Congresswoman McSally via voice messages left on the congressional office voicemail on May 2 (one message) and May 10 (two messages). Within the first voice message, Martan stated: “Yeah this is for Martha McSally,” and “And if I could ring your fucking neck. You need to get back to where you came from and leave Arizona.” Within the second voice message, Martan stated: “Yeah Martha, our sights are set on you, right between your fucking eyes,” and “Be careful when you come back to Tucson cause we hate you here, okay,” and “Can’t wait to fucking pull the trigger bitch.”
Within the third voice message, Martan stated: “Yeah Martha, your days are numbered.” The congressional office voicemail caller identification revealed the calls were made from telephone number 520-240-8246. Verizon Wireless subscriber information listed Martan as the subscriber of this number. Martan was subsequently identified and located. Upon making contact with Martan at his residence, agents located the cellular telephone associated with the above-referenced number on Martan’s person. Martan admitted that he had used this phone to call the office of Congresswoman McSally. Martan stated that he was venting frustrations with Congresswoman McSally’s congressional votes in support of the President of the United States.
A review of Martan’s Facebook page shows mostly posts about animals. One Facebook post, left by a “friend” in December 2016, that references Charlie Sheen’s wish for President Trump to die.
Martan was given home assignment by TUSD and is not allowed to come to work until the District’s investigation is complete.
According to a job posting by TUSD, a Campus Monitor: “Serves as a student support advocate. Monitors the behavior of students attending a TUSD school. Maintains order and ensures district and school policies, rules and regulations are adhered to. Working knowledge in the area of conflict resolution/mediation.”
McSally’s spokesman CJ Karamargin issued a response to the arrest: “Our community should be deeply disturbed by these threats of violence. Threatening to shoot a member of Congress between the eyes and stating that her days are numbered is sickening. It is especially sickening here in southeastern Arizona because we know, perhaps better than any congressional district in the country, what happens when threats of violence become acts of violence. The January 2011 shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was followed by a national discussion about the importance of civility and respectfulness in our public debates. The vicious threats made against Congresswoman McSally are a sobering reminder of just how important that discussion continues to be. We can disagree about issues and policies. We should have robust debates about the future of our country. But threats of violence cross a clear line. These threats against Congresswoman McSally should be a wake-up call for us all. On behalf of Congresswoman McSally, our office would like to thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson for their swift response to these threats. They are true professionals and we all feel safer as a result of the steps they’ve taken.”