Attorney Generals News Release

November 13, 1995

Three arraigned on felony election fraud charges

Jefferson City, Mo. — Three Independence residents were arraigned this morning in Jackson County Circuit Court on felony charges of knowingly furnishing false information to an election authority.

The charges, brought by a Jackson County grand jury, were related to petitions circulated by the Taxpayers Defense League and submitted to the Jackson County Election Board in May. The grand jury convened in October at the request of Attorney General Jay Nixon, whose office investigated the matter.

The three arraigned are:

• Ronald Hardie, charged with 10 counts, allegedly had others circulate petitions and then he signed them all as circulator. Those petitions sheets allegedly contained forgeries and the names of several dozen dead people.
• Karen Larkin, charged with 10 counts, served as the notary for the Taxpayers Defense League and allegedly certified that she witnessed several people sign as petition circulators when that was not the case.
• Kirby Minor, charged with one count, was the treasurer of the Taxpayers Defense League and allegedly signed a petition as circulator when he had not circulated it.

“Election offenses, including submitting sham petitions, are taken very seriously because they cut to the heart of our system of democracy,” Nixon said.

The Attorney General's Office was asked to investigate the case by the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office because Larkin is an employee of that office.

Each count of knowingly furnishing false information to an election authority is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818