Ballot Destruction Conviction Upheld

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Zumbrota man’s bid to clear his record of a conviction for burning election ballots has been rejected by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Thomas Shane was sentenced to probation last September after a jury found him guilty of ballot destruction. The conviction was for a felony offense but the judge in the case reduced it to a gross misdemeanor prior to his sentencing.

Shane admitted burning the ballots following an election for a Wanamingo Township supervisor in 2014, but contends he did not know he was violating the law. The charges were filed after a former Township supervisor and the Township clerk filed a complaint.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeals describe the election as valid, but “at best, rather unorthodox.”