VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Former Congressman Scott Taylor's campaign staffer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of willful neglect of an election duty Tuesday morning.
Lauren Creekmore Peabody, former staff of the Scott Taylor campaign, was sentenced to one year in jail and fined $2,500.
A judge suspended the year of jail time and $1,500 of the fine as long as Peabody has a year of good behavior.
Peabody's Defense Attorney, Attorney John Fletcher, says Peabody had no involvement whatsoever with the forging of voter's signatures.
"Her plea today to a misdemeanor which does not involve fraud, dishonesty, or corrupt conduct, is a fair resolution of this matter as it pertains to Ms.Peabody," Attorney Fletchers says in a statement in court.
News 3 witnessed Peabody's court appearance and says Peabody shed a few tears during Tuesday's appearance.
Taylor's staff was under investigation after the discovery that several signatures were forged on petitions to help qualify Shaun Brown as an Independent candidate for Congress in the second congressional district. The signatures included dead people and others who said their names were used without their permission.
Related:
Campaign staffer for former Congressman Scott Taylor indicted for election fraud
