Vernon's first family convicted in voter fraud case

From Sandi Gibbons at the DA's office:

LOS ANGELES - Leonis Malburg, mayor of Vernon for more than a half-century, and his wife were convicted of voter fraud and other charges today by a judge who ruled after a court trial.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson convicted the elderly couple of all counts but one, in which he found Leonis Malburg not guilty of assisting an unqualified voter - his 40-year-old son, John. The judge said the reason he could not convict Leonis Malburg of the lone count was that there was no evidence that John Malburg actually cast the ballot provided for him by his father.

"This dishonesty and arrogance is hard for me to fathom," said Johnson after announcing the verdicts. He scheduled sentencing for the couple for Jan. 21, but indicated he was leaning toward heavy fines and not jail time. Leonis Malburg is 80, and his wife, Dominica, is 83. Neither is in custody.