Four people charged in connection to voter fraud investigation
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- ABC57 News just got word from the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office about charges stemming from a voter petition fraud investigation.
Prosecutors said there was a formal investigation about signatures on the ballots for Indiana's 2008 Presidental primary election.
Prosecutors said that those charged forged ballots for both Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama. You can review the criminal information documents attached for details.
Indiana State Police conducted the investigation and on Monday, the following people were charged in connection with the incidents that occurred:
63-year-old Butch Morgan was charged with:
| Count I | Conspiracy to Commit Petition Fraud | a Class D felony |
| Count II | Conspiracy to Commit Petition Fraud | a Class D felony |
| Count III | Conspiracy to Commit Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count IV | Conspiracy to Commit Forgery | a Class C felony |
His bond has been set at $100,000 corporate surety or $10,000 cash.
According to police, Morgan is not currently in custody and has not previously been arrested. No mugshot is available at this time.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 22 years in jail and $40,000 in fines.
62-year-old Pam Brunette was charged with:
| Count I | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count II | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count III | Falsely Making a Petition of Nomination | a Class D felony |
| Count IV | Falsely Making a Petition of Nomination | a Class D felony |
| Count V | Official Misconduct | a Class D felony |
| Count VI | Official Misconduct | a Class D felony |
Her bond has been set at $80,000 corporate surety or $8,000 cash.
If convicted, she faces a maximum of 38 years in jail and $60,000 in fines.
38-year-old Dustin Blythe has been charged with:
| Count I | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count II | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count III | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count IV | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count V | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VI | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VII | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VIII | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count IX | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count X | Falsely Making a Petition of Nomination | a Class D felony |
His bond has been set at $60,000 corportate surety or $6,000 cash.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 75 years in jail and $100,000 in fines.
63-year-old Beverly D. Shelton has been charged with:
| Count I | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count II | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count III | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count IV | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count V | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VI | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VII | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count VIII | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count IX | Forgery | a Class C felony |
| Count X | Falsely Making a Petition of Nomination | a Class D felony |
Her bond has been set at $60,000 corportate surety or $6,000 cash.
If convicted, she faces a maximum of 75 years in jail and $100,000 in fines.
Police are still investigating the matter. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Michael Robinson at (574) 206-2931.
ABC57's Jason Aubry will have more information about these charges and the investigation coming up in later editions of ABC57 News.