Reply #13: NY: Ballot tampering charges in Mechanicville

[EFerrari]

MECHANICVILLE - After almost a year-long investigation by the State Police, two community leaders were charged on Tuesday with tampering with absentee ballots during September's primary elections.

The director of community and economic development, William Connors, 47, and his brother Joseph Connors, 51, the city's Democratic Committee chairman, were arraigned in Ballston Spa on Tuesday for election fraud and submitting false absentee ballots for last year's Independence and Conservative primary elections to help Mayor Anthony Sylvester and Supervisor Tom Richardson win the election.

Kevin Luibrand, the Connors' lawyer, said the brothers plead not guilty to all of the charges. Both men were released on their own recognizance after appearing before Saratoga County Judge Jerry Scarano.
If found guilty, the younger Connors could serve up to 20 years in state prison and Joseph Conners could serve up to one year, said Ann Sullivan, the prosecuting attorney for the case.

http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17029855&BRD=1170&PAG=461&dept_id=7021&rfi=6