Ray Magnus Brother, Larry, Indicted in Election Petition - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

The brother of a former Lima City Councilman has been indicted for filing a false election petition that cost a county commissioner candidate his spot on the November ballot.

Larry Magnus was indicted during the latest session of the Allen County grand jury.

He is charged with one count of "Prohibitions Relating to Petitions or Declarations", a felony of the 5th degree.

The indictment states Magnus, the brother of former Lima Councilman Ray Magnus, knowingly, directly or indirectly made a false certification concerning a petition to the Allen County Board of Elections.

Board of Elections Director Ken Terry noticed that Larry Magnus signed a petition being circulated for independent commissioner candidate Brian Cheney.

That petition was signed by residents at a local business which Terry saw in person but he did not see anyone witnessing the signatures, which is required.

Records indicate a sheriff's office investigator will testify that Larry Magnus admitted to him that he did not witness all the signatures and Terry says he can not be a petition circulator as a previous convicted felon and still on probation.

Ray Magnus told investigators he had his brother sign the petition as a circulator.

The investigator informed Magnus that was not legal. Magnus telling the investigator he was unaware of that law because it's done all the time.

The petition mix-up cost Brian Cheney a chance to run against Republican nominee Jay Begg in the fall.

Begg is now unopposed and will become a commissioner in January.

Larry Magnus has entered a written plea of not guilty.

Your News Now reached Ray Magnus Thursday.

He said his brother had no comment but he said it was just a mistake and he has no clue why the grand jury returned an indictment because of an oversight on his part.