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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A paid petition circulator for Nebraska’s two successful medical cannabis ballot measures pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor and a $250 fine, down from an initial felony charge.
Michael K. Egbert, 66, was a paid circulator for the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign to legalize and regulate medical cannabis. Hall County Attorney Marty Klein, whose investigation was aided by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office , reduced Egbert’s charge from a Class IV felony to a Class I misdemeanor, for the “attempt” to “ falsely swear to a circulator’s affidavit .”
Egbert pleaded guilty for “intentionally” engaging in conduct that was “ a substantial step ” toward committing the Class IV felony crime between Feb. 9 and June 30.
A Class I misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a $1,000 fine, or both.
About 200 irregular signatures
Egbert consistently told local law enforcement — and testified last week in a Lancaster County District Court trial against the petitions — that he illegally used a phone book to add signatures to petitions he circulated in addition to legitimate signatures he gathered.