November 9, 2023: Baltimore County Man Pleads Guilty to Voting in a Maryland Election without U.S. Citizenship

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard, III, announced today that a Baltimore County resident, Francis G. Bagnall, pleaded guilty to voting in the 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial General Election without having the legal authority to vote.

Bagnall was sentenced to Probation Before Judgment by the Honorable Robert E. Cahill, Jr. pursuant to a signed plea agreement, the terms of which represent one of the first cases using a special form of Probation Before Judgment passed by the General Assembly in the 2023 Legislative Session. The law is designed to allow individuals to take responsibility for criminal behavior without triggering immigration consequences and incorporates mechanisms to ensure future compliance with the law through the terms of probation.

According to the Statement of Facts admitted into the record, Bagnall has lived in the United States since 1990 and registered to vote in Maryland in 1996, although he was not a citizen of the United States. Bagnall voted in the 2018 Gubernatorial Election, despite lacking citizenship. Bagnall subsequently responded to a jury summons wherein he indicated that he was not a citizen of the United States to avoid participating in jury duty.

“Our office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure the integrity of our elections,” stated Howard. “We will continue to investigate, and where appropriate prosecute, anyone who is alleged to have voted in Maryland without legal authority to do so.”

Mr. Howard thanked Deputy State Prosecutor Sarah R. David, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Mary W. Setzer, and Special Agents John Sieracki, Cindy Thomas, and Don Bradshaw for their work on this case. Mr. Howard also thanked the State Board of Elections for their collaboration in this effort.

A copy of the Statement of Facts can be found HERE.

Contact

media.osp@maryland.gov