Matthew Ammel Charged in Damage at Sinema’s Arizona Home

Matthew Ammel faces a felony criminal-damage charge after investigators said he damaged property at former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s home in Cave Creek, Arizona. Court documents put the estimated combined damage to the home, pool and belongings at more than $200,000. The charge is an allegation, and the supplied reports do not establish a court finding of guilt. Sinema told investigators that Ammel entered her home on August 30 while she was out of town and demanded that she post a video to her X account, according to court documents. She alleged he threatened to damage one of her paintings every 10 minutes until she complied. Sinema did not post the video, the documents say. Investigators said Ammel removed about 22 paintings from the walls and threw them into the swimming pool. Another painting was found near the entrance with black spray paint on it. Court records also describe broken liquor bottles and a shattered wall-mounted mirror. The paintings were valued at $123,015; the combined estimate for damage to the property and pool exceeded $200,000. Sinema provided text messages, recordings and surveillance video, investigators said.