Former Maine candidate pleads guilty in clean elections fraud case

A judge approved a 10-day jail sentence for Matthew Toth, but said the penalty can be satisfied through an alternative sentencing program.

BIDDEFORD — A former candidate for the Maine House accused of forging and falsely certifying voter signatures to qualify for public campaign funds pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of unsworn falsification.

Matthew Toth, a Republican who sought to represent part of Sanford, entered the pleas at the York Judicial Center. He also faced 13 counts of aggravated forgery, all of which were dismissed.

York County District Court Judge Lea-Anne Sutton approved a 10-day jail sentence but said it can be satisfied with participation in an alternative sentencing program that Toth is expected to start Oct. 14.

“I want to apologize to the state for doing such a thing,” Toth said during his court appearance. “I won’t do something like this again. I appreciate living in this state and am just sorry I did this.”

Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/09/28/former-maine-candidate-pleads-guilty-in-clean-elections-fraud-case/