Guilty plea over petition signing

WARREN — Grace Hreno of Niles, mother-in-law of former congressional candidate Randy Walter, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge called “prohibitions concerning signatures on a petition” Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

She was indicted along with three others on charges of filing a false affidavit at the Trumbull County Board of Elections. The affidavit is part of the petition process for getting a candidate’s name on the ballot. The petitions were for Walter’s congressional run in 2006.

Judge W. Wyatt McKay will sentence her after the Adult Probation Department conducts a presentence investigation. Hreno was released after signing for a $500 signature personal recognizance bond.

The three others indicted in the case have all been sentenced previously — Patrick Vennetti of Howland, Georgene Mummey of Poland and Billie Mauritz of Boardman. All received probation and a fine.

Kelly S. Pallante, elections board director, has said the four were referred for prosecution because some signatures on the petitions they turned in didn’t match the signatures on elections records.