Overview
- Prosecutors filed third- and fourth-degree charges against Gina LaPlaca and her husband, Jason Carty, accusing them of submitting false nominating-petition signatures to place LaPlaca on the June Democratic primary ballot.
- The case includes specific counts such as knowingly filing a false petition, two counts of tampering with public records, falsifying records, and a making-a-false-statement-under-oath charge against LaPlaca.
- Investigators say multiple people whose names and signatures appeared on the petition told officials they did not sign or authorize anyone to sign for them, and that LaPlaca signed an affidavit claiming she personally circulated the petition.
- LaPlaca and Carty are scheduled for a first appearance in Superior Court in Mount Holly on Sept. 21 and LaPlaca says she is retaining counsel and calls the charges baseless.
- The new fraud allegations follow LaPlaca’s March guilty plea to DUI and child endangerment and her placement in a three-year diversion program, a prior episode that prosecutors and the public say has heightened scrutiny of her conduct and could affect local trust in township elections.