July 30, 2013: Linda Earlette Wells Indictment
INDICTMENT
The Grand Jurors for the State of Maryland for Montgomery County do on their oath present:
Facts Common to All Counts:
1. Voting in the Maryland 2012 Presidential General Election concluded on
November 6, 2012 at 8 p.m.
2. The defendant, LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, is the adult daughter of Beatrice
Moore Wells.
3. Until her death on or about June 22, 2011, Beatrice Moore Wells was duly registered as a Maryland voter in Montgomery County.
4. The defendant, LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, was not registered to vote in Maryland at all times relevant to this indictment. LINDA EARLETTE WELLS was duly registered to vote in Broward County, Florida.
5. On November 5, 2012, LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, phoned the Montgomery
County Board of Elections and represented herself to be Beatrice Wells.
6. LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, impersonating Beatrice Wells, informed the
Montgomery County Board of Elections that she was not dead and wanted to vote.
7. Based on LINDA EARLETTE WELLS’ false representation that she was in fact Beatrice Wells and not dead, the Montgomery County Board of Elections changed Beatrice Wells’ voter registration from cancelled (due to death) to active.
8. On November 6, 2012, LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, impersonating Beatrice Wells, cast a provisional ballot at polling place number 929, Roberto Clemente Middle School in Montgomery County, Maryland.
9. In casting her provisional ballot as Beatrice Wells, LINDA EARLETTE WELLS, signed an oath stating, in pertinent part, “I am a registered voter in Maryland and eligible to vote in this election.”
10. LINDA EARLETTE WELLS’ provisional ballot was not counted in the Maryland
2012 Presidential General Election.
Count One-Impersonate a Voter in order to Register in the Name of the Voter
11. The allegations of Paragraphs 1-10 are incorporated herein as if set forth in full.
12. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that the said
LINDA EARLETTE WELLS,
on or about November 5, 2012 in Montgomery County, State of Maryland, willfully, knowingly and unlawfully, impersonated another person in order to register to vote in the 2012 Maryland Presidential General Election in the name ofthe registered voter, in violation of §16-101(a)(1), and§ 16-101(b) ofthe Election Law Article, against the peace, government and dignity ofthe State.
Illegalvoting, EL§ 16-101(a)(1), § 16-101(b);
5 years and/or $1,000
Count Two-Attempt to Vote Under a False Name
13. The allegations of Paragraphs 1-10 are incorporated herein as if set forth in full.
14. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that the said
LINDA EARLETTE WELLS
on or about November 6, 2012, in Montgomery County, State of Maryland, did willfully, knowingly and unlawfully attempt to vote under a false name in the
2012 Maryland Presidential General Election, in violation of§ 16-201(a)(1)(ii) and§ 16-201(b) ofthe Election Law Article, against the peace, government, and dignity of the State.
Illegal Voting, EL §I 6-201(a)(1)(ii), § 16-201(b);
5 years and/or $2,500.00
Count Three-Impersonate Another Person in Attempt to Vote
15. The allegations of Paragraphs 1-10 are incorporated herein as if set forth in full.
16. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that the said
LINDA EARLETTE WELLS,
on or about November 6, 2012 in Montgomery County, State of Maryland did willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully, impersonate another person in order to attempt to vote in the 2012 Maryland Presidential General Election, in violation of§ 16-201(a)(1)(i), and§ 16-201(b) of the Election Law Article against the peace, government and dignity of the State.
Illegal voting, EL § 16-201(a)(1)(i), § 16-201(b);
5 years and/or $2,500