Donovan Riley, a disgraced state Senate candidate, is paying a steep price for voting twice in the same election in 2000.A very satisfactory conclusion, and in stark contrast to what happens in Milwaukee.
Riley agreed this afternoon to pay a $10,000 fine, surrender his law licenses in Wisconsin and Illinois and not practice law. He must also return campaign contributions to supporters who request refunds in the next 30 days even if it means paying them from his personal funds.
He has 45 days to meet those conditions. In exchange, the single count of election fraud-voting more than once will be reduced to a misdemeanor. The deal, in which Riley avoids jail time, was reached in a plea bargain with District Attorney Paul Bucher, Riley and Riley's attorney, Jeremy P. Levinson.
Riley on Thursday entered a plea of no contest to the felony count, but the guilty finding will be withheld for 45 days. If Riley fails any of the conditions, he will become a felon, Bucher said. If the conditions are satisfied, Riley will be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has audio.
