Judge: Do what you’re supposed to when voting

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A Washington C.H. woman who plead guilty to illegal voting in April was sentenced Monday in the Fayette County Common Pleas Court.

Danielle R. Trende, 38, was approved to be eligible to participate in the court’s diversion program for a period of one year. In the diversion program Trende is subject to the supervision of the Fayette County Adult Probation Department.

Trende attempted to vote twice in the 2015 general election in November. She cast an absentee ballot for the general election on Oct. 21, 2015 at the Fayette County Board of Elections. Trende then appeared Nov. 3, 2015, and attempted to cast a second provisional ballot for the same election.

Trende told poll workers she was looking for the paper to vote for the president and the poll workers told her there was no presidential election in 2015. Trende told the court in April that she was confused about voting and had taken medication during that time.

Trende’s attempted second vote at the Nov. 3 polls was not cast in the general election, according to the Fayette County Board of Elections.

During sentencing Monday, Trende’s attorney, Susan R. Wollscheid, said to the court that Trende “ is getting her mental health treatment, she seems of clear mind at this time … she understands what she is to do in the future when voting.”

“Do what you’re supposed to do when voting,” said Steven Beathard, the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge.

An illegal vote or attempt to vote more than once at the same election is a felony of the fourth-degree in Ohio. Trende agreed to enter into the one year diversion program in lieu of the felony conviction and as long as she successfully completes the program, the felony conviction will not be entered.

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By Ashley Bunton

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Reach Ashley Bunton at (740) 313-0356 or on Twitter @ashbunton

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