Former Democratic state lawmaker Clinton Collamore pleaded guilty Thursday to violating Maine election law and received a 72-hour jail sentence.
Collamore pleaded guilty to 11 counts of unsworn falsification and one count of criminally violating the Maine Clean Elections Act, according to local ABC affiliate WMTW. The state dismissed 20 counts of aggravated forgery. The former Democratic lawmaker will also have to provide 100 hours of community service, CBS affiliate WGME reported.
Clinton Collamore, of Waldoboro, pleaded guilty on 11 counts of unsworn falsification and one count of violating the Maine Clean Election Act. https://t.co/x2dgrsX9zD
— Portland Press Herald 🦞 (@PressHerald) June 16, 2023
Collamore was indicted in December 2022 after an investigation into whether he forged signatures to get taxpayer dollars for his campaign. He resigned from his Augusta seat in February after initially pleading not guilty to the charges. (RELATED: Top Michigan Democrat Allegedly Used Brain-Damaged Old Lady To Defraud Insurance)
Collamore said he returned more than $14,000 in Maine Clean Election Act funds and sent his salary back to state coffers. His attorney said in February that the signatures on the donation were forged, despite the donations themselves being legitimate.
“I think it’s best for the people who voted for me that I resign at this time. I’ve been taken off the committee … and I can’t be effective. And if you can’t be effective, it’s no good for the voters,” Collamore said in February.
Republican Abden Simmons was victorious in the special election Tuesday to fill Collamore’s seat.