Goodyear Man Receives Probation and Fine for Disrupting Polling Place in 2018

GOODYEAR – Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced that Brad Luebke, age 39 of Goodyear, was convicted of videotaping inside a west valley polling place in 2018.

On Tuesday afternoon, Luebke pleaded guilty to a violation of the "seventy-five foot limit" statute, a Class 2 misdemeanor. On November 6, 2018, Luebke entered a polling place at Desert Springs Community Church in Goodyear with a holstered BB gun and a camera inside the 75-foot limit. Poll workers explained to Luebke that he needed to remove the items from the polling place in order to vote. Luebke refused, and when officers arrived, they found Luebke outside the church with a holstered BB gun and a camera - specifically a cellphone on a specialized mount with a microphone attached.

Luebke was sentenced by Justice of the Peace Anna Huberman to six months of probation and fined $400 -- plus the mandatory surcharge.

“As a first-generation American, I value the right to vote and believe every Arizonan should be able to make their voice heard without feeling intimidated,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “My office stands ready to assist local law enforcement agencies across the state if any issues arise on Election Day.”

On Tuesday, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) sent a letter to law enforcement agencies across the state to offer assistance from the Election Integrity Unit (EIU) with any issues on Election Day.

The EIU established a statewide hotline that law enforcement agencies can call on Election Day if they receive any criminal activity reports relating to election or voting matters. AGO agents will be on standby to assist local officials telephonically in whatever way is needed.
 
In Arizona, there are laws that protect voters’ rights to access polling places and authorize what conduct is and is not allowed inside and outside polling sites.

  • ARS 16-515: Restrictions on activity within 75 feet of a polling location, a Class 2 Misdemeanor
  • ARS 16-1004: Interference with election officers, a Class 5 Felony
  • ARS 16-1005: Ballot fraud and abuse, including the harvesting of ballots, Class 4, 5, and 6 Felonies
  • ARS 16-1006: Hindering or disrupting voting by force, threats, menaces, bribery or any corrupt means, a Class 5 Felony

The AGO would like to remind the public that if an election-related crime is in progress or a situation is escalating, they should immediately contact their local police department.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Lawson prosecuted the case against Luebke.

The case was investigated by Detective Jamie Cole of the Goodyear Police Department.

Booking photograph of Luebke:

Image removed.