Evangelous Arraigned on Voter Fraud Charges

A 2011 Marlborough candidate for councilor-at-large has been arraigned on voter fraud charges, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said Tuesday morning. 

Mark Evangelous, 51, of Marlborough, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on charges of forgery, uttering, and violating absentee voting laws. This news comes just two weeks after Evangelous was indicted for the suspected offense. 

Middlesex Superior Court Assistant Clerk Magistrate Matt Day ordered Evangelous released on personal recognizance. His next court date is March 14 for a pre-trial conference.

According to authorities, on Oct. 28, 2011, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Evangelous submitted a handwritten absentee ballot application to Marlborough city hall. The ballot was filled out with the name of an 89-year-old Marlborough resident, said a release. The resident’s signature appeared at the bottom of the application and the designated area under the signature line to state that the person needed assistance in completing the form, was left blank.

Upon receiving the form, a Marlborough city hall employee examined and matched the application against current citizens in Marlborough who were registered to vote in that election. During this review, it was determined that the resident listed on the ballot was not registered to vote in the election and had passed away earlier in the year, the report continued.

"Marlborough Police were notified that there was a question regarding an absentee ballot application that was dropped off at , said Capt. Paul Valianti at the time. "This application was determined not to be valid."

Authorities allege that Evangelous filled out and signed the absentee ballot knowing that the resident whose name he was using was deceased. It is further alleged that he provided false information to police regarding his knowledge of the investigation. 

Upon hearing news of the indictment issued a statement.

“The City of Marlborough prides itself on dedicated and honest public service which is why I am so deeply troubled to learn of these allegations,” Vigeant stated. “I want to assure the Commonwealth and, more importantly, the citizens of Marlborough that having elections of the utmost integrity is of the greatest importance to both my office as well as every elected official in our city. We will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities on this matter and we await the outcome of the judicial process.”

Evangelous has said almost nothing on the matter, just that he considers the charges to have stemmed from a mistake. 

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