A former Ohio University student attended his sentencing in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas on July 2 for forgery and election fraud.
Timothy Zureick, 22, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of false signatures and one count of election falsification, a fifth-degree felony according to the Ohio Revised Code, during a ballot initiative for the November 2012 election.
Zurieck was sentenced by Judge L. Alan Goldsberry. His offenses could mean 23 years in prison and a fine of up to $57,500.
“This is more severe than the cases we have had in Athens County and this is a stiffer punishment,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in an email.
Blackburn's office recommended five years of community control, and five additional years in prison if Zureick commits an additional offense, per the plea agreement.
“I am satisfied with the sentence as it punishes the offender, protects the public and deters the conduct,” Blackburn said.
Zurieck was arrested in August after signatures from a petition were proven to be invalid.
kf398711@ohiou.edu
