May 25, 2023 at 12:12 p.m.
Former town official sentenced to probation in election fraud case
Staskiewicz, 69, was also ordered to pay a $500 fine plus costs and write apology letters to the victims in the case.
He was arrested in February following an investigation by the Oneida County sheriff's office into paperwork connected to his run for re-election this spring.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the sheriff's office met with town clerk Kim Gauthier on Feb. 3. Gauthier told the investigator she received an anonymous complaint reporting concerns that Staskiewicz had forged signatures on his nomination papers, which were already filed with the town at that point.
After receiving the information, Gauthier reviewed the nomination papers and told the investigator it appeared the signatures were written in a similar handwriting.
The investigator assigned to the case later determined that 24 of the 31 names on Staskiewicz's candidacy papers appeared to be legitimate.
Each of the seven suspicious signatures were investigated further, and each of the persons contacted said they did not sign or give Staskiewicz permission to sign their names in support of his candidacy.
Staskiewicz, who resigned from the Newbold board following his arrest, was originally charged with one count of misconduct in public office and one count of election fraud - falsifying or destroying nomination papers, recall petitions, etc. However, the information - the formal charging document in a criminal case - included only the single count of election fraud/nomination certificate.
One of the persons whose signature was forged addressed the court prior to sentencing.
The woman told the court she was quite shocked when an officer came to her door seeking to speak to her about an election fraud investigation.
"When he told me what had happened and showed me the nomination papers with my name and several other names of (neighbors) ... I was really surprised," she said. "I was really shocked because I've known Mr. Staskiewicz for over a decade and never would have suspected he would do something like this."
The woman went on to say that she had no idea why this happened and was "disappointed" in Staskiewicz' "lack of judgment in this situation."
If he needed additional signatures to get his name on the ballot, he should have contacted the individuals in question rather than forge their names, she added, noting that she would appreciate a personal apology.
Oneida County district attorney Mike Schiek told the court his office spoke with the other victims, all of whom declined the opportunity to address the court. Several said they would have signed Staskiewicz's nomination papers if he had just asked.
The prevailing sentiment was disappointment, he added, noting that the victims wanted Staskiewicz to be held accountable but asked that the lightest punishment possible be imposed.
Schiek said the principle behind his prosecution of Staskiewicz is the need to protect the election process.
Citizens need to be able to rely on the process and put their faith in the idea that it will be fair, he said.
People running for public office need to take all aspects of the process seriously so that the public has confidence in the system "because that's all we have," he added.
"In today's day and time, when we have people questioning every single aspect of the election process, it is needed more than ever," he added.
Schiek also noted that Staskiewicz has resigned from the town board and the lake association he was involved in and has otherwise lived a "commendable" life.
Defense attorney Breanna Halyburton said her client has taken full responsibility for his behavior and resolved the case in an expeditious manner.
For someone who has never had so much as a traffic ticket, a felony conviction is a very serious matter, she added.
"This will be the first conviction for Mr. Staskiewicz and it is a hefty one," she noted, adding that Staskiewicz's behavior was in no way premeditated. He forged signatures because he was mistaken as to the deadline for returning his nomination papers, she explained.
Upon learning that he had one hour to turn in the completed paperwork, he wrote the signatures himself, she explained.
"He was faced with a situation where he had two options and he chose the wrong path," his attorney said.
Given his chance to speak, Staskiewicz was both contrite and direct.
"The only thing I want to say, Your Honor, is I'm sorry," he told Bloom. "I did something stupid and now I have to pay for my mistake."
Like Schiek, Bloom noted the mistrust in government and public officials common in today's society.
'It's important for government officials to do everything in their power to live up to their obligations and live by example," the judge said.
He also noted that he is familiar with the process of gathering signatures to get one's name on a ballot.
"It is a step that must that must be adhered to properly," he said. "It is a corner that can't be cut. It seems harmless on the one hand, they would have signed the papers anyway what's the big deal, but as we all know it is a big deal. It is a breach of trust that means something."
He then accepted the terms of the plea agreement and imposed the sentence of three years probation.
As conditions of probation, Staskiewicz may not hold public office or be involved in the election process at the town, county, or state level as a volunteer or otherwise.
Bloom also directed that Staskiewicz send a "meaningful" letter of apology to all of the victims.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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