Voter Fraud Allegations Led to Alleged Assault by Former Officer

 Posted on December 17, 2020 in Criminal Defense

Since the conclusion of voting for the 2020 presidential election in early November, many Americans have questioned the validity of the results. The majority of suspicions come from conservative voters, and as Texas is dubbed a red state, many Texas legislators have voiced their doubts. This past Monday, the Electoral College affirmed former Vice President Joe Biden’s triumph in the 2020 election, but the 38 electors from the state of Texas provided their votes for President Donald Trump and encouraged swing state legislatures to appoint their own electors. Texas lawmakers are not the only ones taking charge in regards to voter fraud allegations, as one ex-cop took matters into his own hands.

Former Houston Police Captain Arrested

This past Tuesday, a former Houston police captain was arrested for allegedly running an air-conditioner repairman off the road and threatening him at gunpoint. In response to an unsubstantiated voter-fraud conspiracy theory, suspect Mark Anthony Aguirre was involved in a project to find evidence of voter fraud in Harris County. Aguirre was paid $266,400 by activist Steven Hotze, leader of the group Liberty Center for God and Country, to help the group investigate voter fraud in the county. According to Aguirre, he threatened a man who he believed was in charge of a slew of forged election ballots. At this time, there is no evidence that the man who Aguirre threatened was involved in a fraud scheme of any kind. 

What Actions Are Considered a Crime with Elections?

At the moment, election fraud is being highlighted in the news by both sides of the political divide. According to Texas law, a person commits election fraud if he or she knowingly or intentionally attempts to influence the independent exercise of the vote of another person during the voting process; causes a voter to become registered, obtains a ballot, and votes under false pretenses; or causes any intentionally misleading statements to an election official or on an official election-related document.

Election fraud is just one criminal charge that a person can face for interfering with an election. In fact, the Texas legislature outlines various other crimes that can be tied to an election, including the following:

1. Retaliation Against Voter: Anyone who has knowingly threatened, harmed, or impacted a person’s employment status based on their vote (or refusal to disclose their vote) can be charged with this crime.

2. Unlawful Removal from Ballot Box: Anyone who has knowingly or intentionally removed or attempted to remove ballots from a ballot box can be charged with this crime.

3. Unlawfully Prohibiting Employee from Voting: Anyone in a place of authority who refuses to permit one of their employees to be absent from work to go vote or threatens penalties for missed work due to voting may face this criminal charge.

4. Unlawful Buying and Selling of Balloting Materials: Anyone who buys, offers to buy, sells, or offers to sell an official ballot, envelope, or signed early voting mail application can face criminal charges.

Contact a Plano, Texas Fraud Defense Attorney for Help

Because voter fraud and other election-related criminal offenses are currently a hot topic in the news, many accusations may be made without substantial evidence. Voting in the presidential election is an important right to which all Americans are entitled, and the thought of interference with this right can be enough to create a stigma surrounding your case. The Crowder Law Firm, P.C. firmly believes that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and our legal team will work tirelessly to maintain this value throughout your case. No matter the situation surrounding your criminal charges, our Collin County criminal defense lawyers are here to help. Call our firm today at 214-544-0061 to schedule your free initial consultation.

Sources:

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/14/texas-electoral-college/

https://www.npr.org/2020/12/16/946995614/ex-houston-police-officer-charged-in-attack-over-bogus-election-fraud-plot

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.276.htm