2 election workers convicted of rigging '04 presidential recount (M.R. Kropko)

  M.R. KROPKO -- Associated Press

  Jan. 24, 2007 -- CLEVELAND -- Two election workers in the state's most populous county were convicted Wednesday of illegally rigging the 2004 presidential election recount so they could avoid a more thorough review of the votes.

  A third employee who had been charged was acquitted on all counts.

  Jacqueline Maiden, the elections' coordinator who was the board's third-highest ranking employee when she was indicted last March, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer each were convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct of an elections employee.

  Maiden and Dreamer also were convicted of one misdemeanor count each of failure of elections employees to perform their duty. Both were acquitted of five other charges.

  Rosie Grier, assistant manager of the Cuyahoga County Elections Board's ballot department, was acquitted of all seven counts of various election misconduct or interference charges.

  The felony conviction carries a possible sentence of six to 18 months.

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