Months later, still no charges in voter fraud case
Nearly four months have passed since the Greene County clerk and sheriff issued a news release saying they had uncovered a case of voter fraud during April's election.
The release, issued on July 21, said a 32-year-old woman had voted twice during the April 7 election and that she could face up five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. It also included quotes from both Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller and Sheriff Jim Arnott condemning voter fraud.
In the months since the release was issued, however, no charges have been filed against the suspect.
Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson said his office is continuing to review the case but it has taken a back seat to others because the suspect doesn't pose a threat to the community.
"We triage cases that come to us, right. I put our resources where the greatest public safety threat is and so we're going to address those cases first and this case doesn't present a public safety threat," Patterson said.
On Friday, Patterson said he expects his office will make a decision on whether or not to prosecute the woman in the coming weeks.
Calls the News-Leader made to the woman who allegedly voted twice have not been returned.
According to documents Greene County Clerk's office provided to the Sheriff's office:
• On April 7, at 1:45 p.m., the 32-year-old woman who lived on the outskirts of Springfield voted at the Remington's Event Center, W. Republic Road. This precinct was the proper polling site for the home address she had given to election officials.
• About an hour later, at 2:46 p.m., the woman voted again, this time at the polling site at King's Way United Methodist Church, 2401 S. Lone Pine St. At this polling place she gave a different address, one that would allow her to vote at the church.
There was a significant difference between the two polling places, Schoeller said, explaining that the first polling place the woman voted at was outside of Springfield's city limits. That meant she could not vote on the city's controversial gay-rights ordinance that was being challenged by a referendum — and was ultimately deep-sixed — in the April election, Schoeller said.
The second polling place was inside the city limits, which allowed the woman to vote on the referendum, Schoeller said. He speculates the woman tried to vote a second time in order to vote on the referendum.
"There is no absolute proof but that's what I guess would be the common sense conjecture as to why that might occur," Schoeller said Friday.
Arnott said Friday that news releases like the one put on July 21 can deter people from making criminal choices. He also said the press release was reviewed by the prosecutors office.
As jail dispute continues, arguments become more heated
Answer Man: Who comes up with the encouraging messages on digital sign?