Sec. Of State Charlie White guilty of voter fraud Created by jzimney on 2/4/2012 7:19:39 AM Pin It 
Indiana's top elections official has been found guilty of six of seven voter fraud-related charges and faces removal from office.
Hamilton County jurors returned the verdict against Republican Secretary of State Charlie White about 1:30 a.m. Saturday after deliberating for nearly 13 hours.
White was accused of lying about where he lived when he registered to vote in the May 2010 Republican primary. Prosecutors said he used his ex-wife's address instead of a condo he had with his fiancDee to keep his $1,000-per-month Fishers Town Council salary despite moving out of his council district.
He faced seven felony charges.
State law bars anyone convicted of a felony from remaining in office.
Message from Governor Daniels about the Indiana Secretary of State Office:
“Effective immediately, I have appointed Jerry Bonnet, a Secretary of State employee since 2005, and currently chief deputy, to serve as Secretary of State on an interim basis. This is an exceptionally busy time in the Secretary of State’s office as signatures for president, U.S. Senate and governor are being certified this month. Jerry, a Yorktown native, has agreed to serve until I either select someone else to serve the remainder of the current term or until the prior occupant is reinstated.
“I have chosen not to make a permanent appointment today out of respect for the judge’s authority to lessen the verdict to a misdemeanor and reinstate the elected office holder. If the felony convictions are not altered, I anticipate making a permanent appointment quickly.
“Jerry Bonnet is a longtime employee who absolutely knows what should be done to provide the effective supervision and oversight the office requires.”
