Ex-bodyguard in Kyrsten Sinema ‘homewrecker’ case accused of wrecking her Cave Creek home

The former bodyguard whose affair with Kyrsten Sinema is at the center of a North Carolina “homewrecker” lawsuit has been charged with a felony, accused of throwing nearly two dozen paintings into the pool at her Cave Creek home.

Matthew Ammel, 39, was arrested Sept. 17 by Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies on a charge of aggravated criminal damage, court records show.

Deputies took him into custody as he was released from a mental health facility.

A probable cause statement identifies the complainant only as Kyrsten, Ammel’s former girlfriend.

She told deputies that on Aug. 30, while she was away, Ammel demanded that she post a video to her X account and threatened to destroy a painting every 10 minutes until she did.

When she refused, he threw about 22 paintings into the pool, spray-painted another and smashed liquor bottles and a mirror, according to the statement.

Deputies said surveillance video showed Ammel destroying property. The paintings were valued at $123,015, with total damage estimated at more than $200,000.

Ammel has since been released from custody. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 5.

Kyrsten Sinema ‘homewrecker’ lawsuit moves forward

His ex-wife, Heather Ammel, is suing Sinema under North Carolina’s alienation-of-affection law, commonly known as the “homewrecker” law. A federal judge ruled Sept. 4 that the case can proceed there. In a Sept. 18 filing, Sinema denied most of the allegations and requested a jury trial.

An initial pretrial conference in the homewrecker lawsuit is set for Oct. 22.

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