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Student Senator To Appear In Court On False Threat Charges
By: Jordan Kelley
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ATHENS — An Ohio University Student Senate member will appear in court Thursday after being accused of lying about death threats she received.
Anna Ayers, 21, of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, was charged with three counts of making a false alarm by university police, according to a press release by OUPD. Ayers made headlines earlier this week after claiming to have received threatening messages, including a death threat, targeting her as a member of the LGBTQ community.
According to the release, Ayers claimed she received three threats; two in the Student Senate office and one at her residence. OUPD found that Ayers “had placed the messages herself, prior to reporting them,” the release stated.
A representative from the Athens County Municipal Court clerk’s office told WOUB that Ayers’ arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. She is represented by attorney Pat McGee, who will file for a continuation on Thursday morning, according to the court.
Making false alarms is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine.
Ayers, a finance and journalism major, is still listed on the Student Senate website as the Senate Appropriations Commissioner.
“We are still processing and encouraging our members to take time to heal and utilize campus support resources right now,” Student Senate President Maddie Sloat said in a statement. “We’re complying with the investigation and OUPD. We hope Anna receives the help that she needs.”
Ayers is also a part of the editorial board for The Post, the student-run newspaper in Athens.
WOUB has reached out to Ayers and McGee for comment and is still awaiting a response.