A former Republican county clerk in Colorado who attempted to help others investigate alleged ballot fraud following the 2020 election is now behind bars because of those efforts.

Tina Peters, of Colorado's Mesa County, was sentenced to nine years in prison by state Judge Matthew Barrett following her conviction in August on multiple criminal counts related to a breach of the electronic voting systems in her jurisdiction, CNBC reported.

Peters, 68, who'd been hailed as a "hero" by some allies of former President Donald Trump for her efforts to expose alleged 2020 election fraud, was thoroughly chastised and reduced to tears by the judge who refused to show the Gold Star mom and widow any mercy and instead decided to make an example out of her with a lengthy prison sentence.

No mercy from the judge

"You are no hero," Judge Barrett told Peters. "You're a charlatan who used and is still using your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that's been proven to be junk time and time again."

"Your lies are well documented, and these convictions are serious. I'm convinced you'd do it all over again if you could," the judge continued. "You're as defiant a defendant as this court has ever seen."

Joining the judge in demonizing Peters at the sentencing hearing was Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubenstein, who said, "Ms. Peters has demonstrated repeatedly that she does not think she did anything wrong."

She submitted a statement to the court in the pre-sentence investigation report, giving excuses, giving justifications, but never once acknowledging that she did something wrong, that this was not the way to handle this," the prosecutor added in recommending prison instead of probation. "What does every 12-step program start with? It starts with acknowledging you have a problem, and she has not done that, and there's no purpose in rehabilitation for somebody who does not think they did anything wrong."

Convicted of seven counts; Peters pleaded for leniency

According to CPR News, Peters was found guilty by a jury in August of seven criminal counts, four of which were felonies, including three counts of "attempting to influence a public servant," one count of "conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation." She was also convicted of three misdemeanors, including "first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with an order from the Secretary of State."

The charges against Peters stemmed from an investigation launched in 2021 which found that she'd used her official position to help a private investigator associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell gain access to Mesa County's Dominion Voting Machines system during a software update, during which copies were made of sensitive information that were later displayed online and featured in election fraud-related events.

Despite the horrible things said to her by the judge and prosecutor, a tearful Peters pleaded for mercy from the court and said, "I'm not a criminal and I don't deserve to go into a prison where other people have committed heinous crimes."

She further displayed photos of her deceased husband and son, a U.S. Navy SEAL who died while serving the country, and asked to remain free so she could continue to provide care for her elderly mother who lives in Virginia, and added, "I'm remorseful. Yes sir, I really am."

Court reportedly receiving "threats and compliments" after sentencing

To be sure, there are plenty of Americans who are thrilled with the harsh sentence handed down from the judge for the former Colorado county clerk who tried to expose alleged 2020 election fraud, but not everybody is happy with the judge's decision, according to The Colorado Sun.

An executive official for the 21st Judicial District, Will Sightler, said in a statement on Friday, "We are receiving threats and compliments regarding Judge Barrett's sentencing of Tina Peters," and added, "We are currently reviewing and taking appropriate action as necessary."

It is unclear what the alleged threats entail, who they are aimed at, or how serious or legitimate they may be.