NH woman pleads guilty to assaulting town election official

A New Hampshire woman has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to serve time in prison for slapping a town election officer in the face, authorities announced Tuesday. 

Tina Thomas, 54, of Raymond, New Hampshire pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting an election officer, the Attorney General’s office said in a statement. She was accused of slapping Raymond Town Moderator Pro Tem Jonathan Wood during the town’s municipal and school elections on March 28. 

Thomas was sentenced to 12 months in the house of corrections, all suspended for one year on the condition of good behavior and compliance with her sentencing order, the AG’s office said. She was ordered to have no contact with Wood during the period of her suspended sentence and to complete 10 hours of community service. 

“Assaulting an election official is a serious offense that strikes at the heart of our democratic process,” Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. “This plea and sentence send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated in New Hampshire.”

Thomas has also lost her right to vote in New Hampshire in accordance with state law, the AG’s office said.