Two Men Face Charges After Fiery Altercation at LD14 GOP Meeting

The Town of Gilbert has leveled charges against Nathan Hunsaker and Stephen Hunsaker, relatives of Republican House candidate Lalani Hunsaker in Legislative District 14, following an altercation on July 15. Court records indicate Nathan Hunsaker faces counts of assault, disorderly conduct, and third-degree criminal trespass, while Stephen Hunsaker faces counts of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

The charges arise from an incident involving LD14 Republican Chairman Andrew Adams, where Nathan Hunsaker allegedly headbutted Adams. Lalani Hunsaker criticized the investigation as misuse of taxpayer money, suggesting the real issue was overblown.

“We are wasting taxpayer resources over two grown adults telling each other to shut up,” Lalani Hunsaker commented. Both men have an arraignment set for August 20 in Gilbert Municipal Court.

The confrontation occurred during a Legislative District 14 Republican precinct committee meeting, as Rep. Laurin Hendrix, R-Gilbert, was providing a legislative update. During his speech, Hendrix discussed his re-election campaign and faced criticism from Lalani Hunsaker, a primary election opponent, over his legislative actions.

Lalani Hunsaker supplied an audio recording of Hendrix’s speech to the Arizona Capitol Times. In the recording, Hendrix mentioned rumors tying Hunsaker’s son to the “Gilbert Goons,” a gang linked to violent incidents. Hunsaker refuted these claims, labeling them “categorically untrue” and “ridiculous.”

Both Hendrix and Adams have discredited the rumor about Lalani Hunsaker’s son. As Hendrix addressed the rumor during his speech, a disruption ensued involving Lalani Hunsaker, her husband, and her brother-in-law.

Adams opted to remove the Hunsaker group when tensions escalated. Video footage from ABC15 captured the ensuing confrontation outside the meeting venue.

Adams described the incident, claiming Nathan Hunsaker got in his face, swore, and headbutted him. The video corroborates that a man, resembling Nathan Hunsaker, made a sudden movement toward Adams.

Lalani Hunsaker defended her husband’s actions as those of a father protecting his family. Adams criticized the conduct, referring to the people involved as “this kind of people” infiltrating the Republican Party.

Earlier, Lalani Hunsaker had accused Adams of forcefully removing her husband and supporters from the meeting, while Hendrix had reportedly tried to resolve tensions regarding campaign attacks at an earlier meeting with Lalani Hunsaker.

Hendrix rebuffed allegations of attacking Hunsaker’s son and declared his efforts to defend him, expressing frustration over the ongoing media coverage.

Hendrix is running alongside Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, and Khyl Powell for LD14’s other House seats. Five Republicans, including Joel Coen and Andrew Jackson, are competing in the district’s primary.