Hillsdale County Man Sentenced for Facebook Posts Threatening Former Prosecutor

LANSING – Last Friday, Paul Hawkins, 30, who is currently incarcerated at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 133 days in jail for posting threatening messages on the Hillsdale City Police Department’s Facebook page, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Hawkins was found guilty in January of 2025 by Judge Megan Stiverson of the 2B District Court in Hillsdale County of one count of Malicious Use of a Telecommunications Service and one count of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime. 

“Threats against those who serve our communities cannot and will not be tolerated,” Nessel said. “My office will continue to protect public officials from intimidation by prosecuting those who seek to undermine their safety and the public’s safety through fear.” 

While on parole in May of 2024, Hawkins posted messages that threatened the life and property of former Hillsdale County Prosecutor Neal Brady, who was the elected prosecutor at the time of Hawkins’ previous criminal convictions.