Free Republic

Debra M. Briseno also admits to judge to registering noncitizens to vote EDNA – A former Port Lavaca city councilwoman today was sentenced to five years in prison for committing voter fraud during the March 2006 primary election. A Jackson County jury found Debra M. Briseno, 51, guilty Friday of registering noncitizens to vote. Briseno, who ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for county justice of the peace in that election, also facilitated noncitizen voting by tampering with government documents. The offense of illegal voting is a third-degree felony. Briseno accepted the five-year prison term as part of a sentencing agreement...

06/25/2007 Associated Press A former Port Lavaca city councilwoman was sentenced to five years in prison Monday for helping noncitizens register to vote in the March 2006 primary. Debra Briseno, 51, was convicted by a Jackson County jury on Friday. The trial had been moved from Calhoun County at her lawyer's request. Briseno, who ran unsuccessfully for Calhoun County justice of the peace in 2006 as a Democrat, was also convicted of tampering with government documents. Investigators said Briseno helped the noncitizen residents register to vote, telling them they only needed a driver's license to do so. Under Texas law,...