King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng today announced the filing of charges against two individuals who were investigated for casting votes in the November 2004 election for their dead spouses.

Robert Holmgren and Doris McFarland appeared in King County District Court this morning to plead guilty to the charge of repeat voting, a gross misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to one year in jail. Prosecutors, however, did not recommend any jail time and requested that Holmgren, 59, and McFarland, 83, be given one-year deferred sentences on condition that they pay a $250 fine.

King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato granted the request and imposed one-year deferred sentences this morning.

In last November’s election, Holmgren and McFarland had forged the signatures of the deceased spouses and then mailed in their absentee ballots, which were then processed and counted by King County’s Department of Elections. Holmgren’s wife of 40 years, Charlotte, had passed away in September 2004. McFarland’s husband, Earl, had passed away in October 2004.

“The disposition today sends an important message to all voters that our system is dependent upon the honor of its participants, and those who cheat may wind up in court explaining it to a judge,” said King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng.

“At the same time, today’s disposition recognizes that these people made a very human mistake during a time of grieving. The extra votes cast by these individuals were in honor and remembrance of their recently deceased spouses. Their motivation in these cases was not to throw an election, but to remember a loved one,” Maleng added.

Maleng said that the King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating five additional cases of repeat voting, but no charges have been filed in those incidents.

See Also: Double Voters Press Conference

Dated: June 2, 2005