MCCULLOCH FOUND GUILTY OF PERJURY IN ELECTION PETITION CASE

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that Rodney McCulloch, 43 (d.o.b. 12/4/64) of  Westmont, has been found guilty of three (3) counts of Perjury and one (1) count of Disregard of Election Code in connection with the certification of election petitions for a candidate for Milton Township Assessor in January, 2005.  The finding was made by Judge Michael Burke after a two day bench trial.  The case is next scheduled for May 1, 2008 for the return of a pre-sentence report.  Perjury is a Class 3 felony with a potential punishment of up to five (5) years in the penitentiary.  The Election Code violation is a Class A misdemeanor

            The Court found Mr. McCulloch guilty of knowingly making false statements in certifying the validity of signatures on three different “independent Candidate Petitions” of Jim Gumm, a candidate for Milton Township Assessor.  The court also found that these acts were also prohibited by the Election Code.  The court made a finding of “not guilty” of Forgery.

            State’s Attorney Birkett stated:  “This verdict is important in upholding the integrity of the electoral process. No one should be able to tamper with the election process as Mr. McCulloch was found to have done.  His actions compromised the candidacy of Jim Gumm, who sought the position of Milton Township Assessor in Spring, 2005.  He will now answer to the criminal court for these actions.” 

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