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Halfaday Indicted, Expected to Plead Guilty to Election Fraud

Posted: 1:41 PM Feb 21, 2012

February 21, 2012

A former Charlottesville City Council candidate is expected to plead guilty to election fraud next month.

On Tuesday, James Halfaday was indicted by a grand jury on one count of election fraud. The former Democratic candidate has been accused of using a false address when submitting official election documents to the registrar.

The exact charge is: willfully filing a false statement in a campaign document to establish qualifications for office.

Upon being charged in October 2011, Halfaday said, "I am not guilty of these charges. I ask that no one judge me before I have had my day in court. Until the cases are completed, I will have no further comments."

Election fraud is a felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. Halfaday's trial date has been set for Mar. 6 at 11:30 a.m.