PORT TOWNSEND — Todd McGuire, charged with signing his wife’s ballot in the Feb. 6, 2007 special election, has pleaded not guilty to class C felony charges alleging he signed his wife’s name on her absentee ballot in February, 2007.
“Mr. McGuire is entering a plea of not guilty on both charges — both on the first and alternative charges,” McGuire’s attorney Ben Critchlow told Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Craddock Verser during McGuire’s arraignment on Friday.
McGuire, a prominent Jefferson County Democrat, was present but did not speak during the hearing.
He is charged with repeating a vote, or in the alternative, criminal impersonation in the first degree.
Both crimes are class C felonies which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ann Lundwall, who is acting on behalf of the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, participated in the court hearing by phone.
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell, who is a Democrat, said she sent the matter to Clallam County in 2007 to avoid politicizing the case and to avoid any appearance of political bias.
An omnibus hearing has been set for Aug. 29 and a pretrial hearing has been set for Oct. 10.
Trial has been tentatively set for Oct. 20 and 21.
