State Rep. Christina Ayala, who lost her seat covering the East Side and Hollow neighborhoods in an August primary, was arrested today on several state charges including allegedly falsifying her voting address. News release from office of Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney:
State Representative Christina “Tita” Ayala of Bridgeport was arrested today (Friday) and charged with voting in local and state elections in districts where she did not live.
Ayala, age 31, of 506 Brooks Street, Bridgeport, was arrested by Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with eight counts of Fraudulent Voting, 10 counts of Primary or Enrollment Violations, and one count of Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the State Elections Enforcement Commission in the Office of Governmental Accountability referred the matter to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in October 2013.
The warrant alleges Ayala voted in various Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee elections, a municipal primary election and a state primary election between 2009 and 2012, in districts inconsistent with location of her residence. In addition, the warrant alleges that she voted in the Bridgeport state general election in 2012 in a district where she did not reside.
The warrant further alleges that Ayala presented fabricated evidence to Elections Enforcement Commission investigators that she lived at an address in a district where she voted while actually residing at an address outside that district.
Fraudulent Voting is a felony punishable by not less than one year or more than two years imprisonment and a fine of $300 to $500 on each count. Primary or Enrollment Violations and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence are class D felonies carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 5 years incarceration on each count.
Ayala was released on a promise to appear for arraignment at Bridgeport Superior Court, G.A. No. 2, on October 7, 2014. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
She is not the only one elected in Bridgeport who does not live at the given address. Take note.
You are correct, Mr. Fardy. Andres her cousin does not live in his district. Dejesus, Padilla, and a few others do not reside at their registered address.
Why doesn’t the State’s Attorney check all our elected officials and arrest all the people who have lied about their residences? That would be a big start in cleaning up the city. We get rid of lying politicians and they get what they deserve, and so do we.
Does anyone think SEEC application and form examiners really look closely at the forms, report and applications they handle? It works like this: When anyone signs these documents they are signing under oath and attesting the information is true and are made aware of the penalty if it later is found to be a provable and intentional lie. Statute of limitations is really four years, not five.
The penalties are too severe for a non-violent crime. There have been plenty of people charged for multiple counts on much serious/violent crimes and in most cases the state and the accused makes a deal in which most of the counts are dropped; a plea of guilty is accepted on remaining counts; a fine, restitution and some lower amount of time or probation is handed down. She fell for her desire to vote for close family members. I’m sure not all those family members will give her all the support she needs and I’m sure I can name those who won’t. Good luck, Christina Ayala. I know deep down you are a good person. There will be better times in your future.
I was once found guilty of 135 charges each carrying 15 years. I was so glad when the alarm clock woke me up.
I’m sure her mother had no clue.
But Joel, what does she do if making restitution includes repaying the state CEP funds for two election cycles? That would be pretty hefty restitution.
Bob, you’re the accountant. Offer her some pro bono service and help her put together a payment plan.
Any truth to the rumor they are waiting ’til after Christmas before they arrest Christina’s mom Santa?
Rumors of the truth: Yes, HW. Your attention to detail is amazing, including the part about a holiday Santa “clause.”
Lennie: Do you think she is a criminal NOW? This is why decent businesses will not and have not come to the Park City. I think when the Bridgeport delegation shows up in Hartford, the other thieves must grab their valuables.
Pretty hot mug shot on Channel 12. Very well done makeup and an hint of a Mona Lisa smile. A girl’s gotta plan for a photo that will live on and on and on …
I had expect you to complain about her being released on a promise to appear instead of having to pay 10% to a bondsmen. 🙂
As for Santa Ayala, she and Republican Linda Grace failed to report votes in the 2012 presidential election. In response to complaints by the Green Party, the State Elections Enforcement Commission found they failed to count write-in votes in 2012. The SEEC decision can be found on the SEEC website at
www .ct.gov/seec/cwp/view.asp?a=3556&q=431782
–look for File No. 2013-021. In response, the Bridgeport Registrars recounted only in the voting districts where complaints were filed, but there were probably more uncounted in other districts.