Kyrsten Sinema's ex-bodyguard accused of causing $200,000 damage to her Cave Creek home

Key Points:

• Matthew Ammel, former bodyguard to ex-Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, is accused of causing over $200,000 in damage to Sinema's Cave Creek home while she was out of town, including destroying 22 paintings valued at $123,015.
• Ammel allegedly demanded Sinema post a video on her X account and threatened to damage her artwork every 10 minutes if she did not comply; after she refused, he removed and threw paintings into the backyard pool and broke several expensive alcohol bottles.
• Ammel was arrested on September 17 on charges of aggravated criminal damage after being released from a mental health facility; he was too combative to appear in court, was released with conditions including no contact with Sinema and wearing an ankle monitor.
• The incident was reported by Sinema to deputies on September 3, days after it occurred on August 30, and she provided text messages, videos, and surveillance footage supporting the allegations.
• This case emerges amid Sinema’s public acknowledgment of an affair with Ammel following a North Carolina "alienation of affection" lawsuit filed against her, which she seeks to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds.