WASHINGTON — A federal judge sentenced a North Carolina politician Tuesday to a year of probation and a $7,500 fine after prosecutors said in court records last week that she “thwarted the voting public’s ability to make informed decisions at the ballot box.”
But federal District Judge Christopher Cooper, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that this was a one-time indiscretion by Lynda Bennett, 65, of Maggie Valley, and she didn’t deserve more than probation for her crimes that could have carried up to a 12-month prison sentence.
“I’m very sorry for the distress and concern I caused my family and friends,” Bennett said from the front of the courtroom, thanking them for their prayers. “They stood by me when doing so wasn’t the easiest choice.”
