Worker pleads guilty in election equipment tampering case

[liberal N proud]

DENVER (AP) — A former elections manager who prosecutors say assisted in a security breach of voting equipment in a Colorado county pleaded guilty on Wednesday under a plea agreement that requires her to testify against her former boss.

Sandra Brown is one of two employees accused of helping Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters allow a copy of a hard drive to be made during an update of election equipment last year in search of proof of the false conspiracy theories spun by former President Donald Trump.

Brown, 45, pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, and official misconduct, a misdemeanor, but will not be sentenced until right after she testifies at Peters’ trial next year so her performance on the witness stand can be considered.

“There were things going on that I should have questioned and I didn’t,” Brown told Judge Matthew Barrett.

In August, Peters’ chief deputy, Belinda Knisley, also pleaded guilty under a deal that required her to testify against Peters. She only pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts and was immediately sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation.

https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-colorado-state-08f7bb8f0efcf78782262b77893790d1

[SarcasticSatyr]

1. "unsupervised probation" ...

Her wrist must have barely stung from that slap .... I realize her sentence was lenient because of her agreeing to testify against her boss, but still ...

[Fullduplexxx]

2. Jeezuz ... unsupervised probation what a fkg disgraceful sentence

That'll show her ... what a deterent

[3catwoman3]

3. Unsupervised probation?

I didn't know there was such a thing. What's the point?

[stopdiggin]

4. "things going on that I should have questioned .."

I think that is a little too sanguine.
"I opened the till and watched as other employees stole from it ..."

My point - I think every election official/employee knows that these actions (duping election software) are clearly defined as 'against the law' - in virtually every jurisdiction that is using these machines. And I'm pretty sure this employee (by her own admission) did. As an employee, she is probably less culpable than her boss (who initiated the law breaking) - but culpable (and knowingly) nonetheless.

So - not 'should have questioned' - rather, 'knew and went along.'