Ex-ACORN worker admits voter-registration fraud
A 34-year-old Chester man arrested last month for alleged voter-registration fraud admitted his guilt yesterday in Delaware County Court. Jemar Barksdale, an ex-employee of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), was accused of turning in voter-registration cards for 18 already-registered voters, altering information, and forging signatures. He entered a negotiated guilty plea to charges of forgery, identity theft, and tampering with public records, said Deputy District Attorney Greg Hurchalla. Under the terms of the agreement approved by Delaware County Court Judge Patricia Jenkins, Barksdale, who spent about a week in prison on the charges, must serve six to 23 months on house arrest, undergo a psychiatric evaluation, perform eight hours of community service, and pay $574 in restitution to ACORN, Hurchalla said. - Kathleen Brady Shea
A 34-year-old Chester man arrested last month for alleged voter-registration fraud admitted his guilt yesterday in Delaware County Court.
Jemar Barksdale, an ex-employee of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), was accused of turning in voter-registration cards for 18 already-registered voters, altering information, and forging signatures. He entered a negotiated guilty plea to charges of forgery, identity theft, and tampering with public records, said Deputy District Attorney Greg Hurchalla.
Under the terms of the agreement approved by Delaware County Court Judge Patricia Jenkins, Barksdale, who spent about a week in prison on the charges, must serve six to 23 months on house arrest, undergo a psychiatric evaluation, perform eight hours of community service, and pay $574 in restitution to ACORN, Hurchalla said. - Kathleen Brady Shea