MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A former Milwaukee election official convicted of misconduct in office and fraud for obtaining fake absentee ballots was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation and fined $3,000. Kimberly Zapata, 47, also was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. Prosecutors charged Zapata in November 2022 with one felony count of misconduct in public office and three misdemeanor counts of election fraud. A jury in March found her guilty on all four counts. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Kori Ashley rejected an argument by Zapata’s attorneys that she was acting as a whistleblower, telling her before handing down the sentence that she had ways to make her point other than breaking the law. Speaking just before the sentence was handed down, Zapata said she regretted her actions that she said “stemmed from a complete emotional breakdown,” Wisconsin Public Radio reported. She said she has autism spectrum disorder, which makes it difficult for her to regulate emotions, sensory input and thought processes. |
Shohei Ohtani gets first walkCeline Dion shares RARE snap with twin sons Nelson and Eddy, 13 and eldest ReneGeneral Hospital's Brook Lynn and Chase tie the knot on Thursday in the second episode of a threeTimeline of the Assange legal saga over extradition to the US on espionage chargesChina's AG600 large amphibious aircraft advances toward certificationAntiques Roadshow guest freezes in shock after hearing fiveCondition of Slovakia's prime minister improves following an assassination attemptBiden's upcoming commencement speech roils Morehouse CollegeShogun is in the works for TWO more seasons after FX series received criticalDua Lipa, Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran are named among Britain's richest under 40s