Local News in Brief : No Contest Plea in AIDS Petition Fraud
A political consultant pleaded no contest Monday to an election-fraud charge stemming from falsely signed petitions for a 1986 AIDS initiative backed by political extremist Lyndon LaRouche. Witnesses at a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court said Stanley Irvin Dale III brought Missouri residents to California, had them register to vote and sent them out to circulate petitions.
In a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office, Dale, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded no contest to one charge of procuring an ineligible person to vote. Seven charges of election fraud and promoting perjury were dismissed.
Superior Court Judge David Horowitz told Dale he could draw a maximum sentence of three years in state prison or a minimum of probation. He said Dale was also subject to a possible maximum civil fine of $110,000.
Only California residents were eligible to vote or circulate petitions for Proposition 64, which was defeated.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
