2012 Oklahoma – Criminal Conviction – Darryl Cates

Darryl Cates, of Westville, entered a plea of nolo contendere to charges of false notarization of absentee ballots. The charges stemmed from the 2009 Cave Springs School District election, in which 33 ballots were disputed based on inconsistencies between the signatures on ballot request forms and voter affidavits. All of the contested ballots were notarized by Cates. He was essentially charged with signing the names of two voters on absentee ballots. Following his plea, Cates received a three-year deferred sentence.