Ten North Dakota State football players, including four starters, pleaded guilty Tuesday to criminal charges for forging signatures on two petitions, according to an Associated Press report.
North Dakota State football players plead guilty to petition fraud
Ten North Dakota State football players, including four starters, will plead guilty to criminal charges for forging signatures on two petitions.
Jesse Johnson, U.S. Presswire
The players were reportedly completing community service by collecting signatures for two causes: one hoped to create a state conservation fund and the other to legalize medical marijuana. Because of the fraud, neither vote will appear on November’s ballot.
In addition to the 10 players, three other people are being charged. All face misdemeanor charges that carry a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine, according to USA Today.
Coach Craig Bohl will wait for the legal proceedings to end before possibly handing out his own punishment.
The fraud was detected when some signatures didn’t match up with zip codes. Upon further investigation, state officials found problems with similar hand-writing and one signature from “Hillary Rodham” who was listed as living in the White House.
North Dakota State is the defending FCS Champion, and currently ranked No. 1.
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