Arizona man sentenced to prison for threatening to kill Rep. McSally

PHOENIX — An Arizona man who threatened several times to kill U.S. Rep Martha McSally has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Steve Martan, 58, of Tucson, was sentenced there Wednesday in federal court.

The FBI said Martan had called McSally’s office six times, leaving disturbing, violence-laced voicemails from his cellphone during the spring of 2017, including May 2 and May 10.

In at least one of the messages he implied he would shoot the Republican lawmaker, who is running for Senate.

He also told McSally to watch her back when she goes to Tucson next, stating that it could be her last time and her days are numbered.

The Tucson Sentinel reported last May that authorities were able to track down Martan from the office phone’s caller ID.

Eventually, federal agents went to Martan’s home, talked to him and found the cellphone.

He admitted calling the congresswoman’s office but said he had only been “venting” about her voting record and that he had been under the influence.

Martan had worked as a campus monitor at Miles Exploratory Learning Center.

U.S. District Judge Cindy Jorgenson also sentenced Martan to three years of supervised release after he finished his prison term.

He will have to undergo mental health evaluations.

McSally, the first woman combat pilot in the United States, is one of several in her party vying to replace Jeff Flake.

Arizona’s junior senator announced he would retire when his term expired in January 2019.

Former state Sen. Dr. Kelli Ward and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio were also campaigning for the job.

The Arizona primary was scheduled Aug. 28.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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