Oneida Man Plead Guilty To Forgery Charges

An Oneida man has  pleaded guilty to charges regarding forged signatures on Independence Party petitions

The Madison County Sheriff's Office says 41-year old Brian Karst faced numerous charges, including criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Karst pleaded guilty today to one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument and one count of making a false written statement.

He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, five years probation and was fined 5-thousand dollars.

Karst must also resign his position with the Madison County Independence Party with a five-year ban.

The special prosecutor in the case says the candidates whose names appeared on the petitions were not aware of Karst's actions.

The charged are the result of an investigation that began last November.