BOULDER, Colo. — A former Democratic state representative who lied about where she lived so that she would qualify for reelection was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to two charges.
The Boulder County District Attorney's Office said in a release that Tracey Bernett was criminally charged for falsely representing her primary residence over a one-year period. The investigation revealed Bernett rented an apartment in Louisville to qualify for reelection in House District 12, but she didn't live there.
The investigation also revealed she falsely registered her car at the Louisville apartment and changed her voter registration record to show that she lived there shortly after HD12 was redistricted.
The release said Bernett filed false sworn documents with the Secretary of State's Office in connection with her crimes. She also voted in a primary election in HD12.
At her arraignment Friday, Bernett pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant and a misdemeanor charge of perjury.
For the first charge, Bernett received to a two-year deferred judgment and sentence that includes a condition of 150 hours of community service. If she completes the deferred judgment and sentence, it won't count as a felony conviction on her record.
She was sentenced to two years' probation for the second count, with the same 150 hours of community service as a condition. The two sentences will be served at the same time.
“These criminal acts, including the filing of false sworn documents, violated the public trust and the integrity of our election process," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. "I want to acknowledge and thank the district attorney investigators and Chief Deputy District Attorney Adrian Van Nice for their hard work in developing the evidence and making this outcome possible. It is wholly unacceptable when public servants violate the law and the public’s trust in connection with their duties.”
Bernett was originally elected to represent HD12 in 2020, but redistricting put her Longmont home in HD19 before the 2022 election. She resigned the day before the 2023 legislative session.
The story includes reporting from Colorado Politics.
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