Mayor Issues Statement Concerning Evangelous Indictment

has issued a statement pertaining to the grand jury indictment of local businessman and politician Mark Evangelous, who is accused of forgery, uttering, and violating absentee voting laws in the November 2011 city elections.

“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, who was running for a councilor-at-large seat and a former Ward 5 councilor,  

“We allege that this defendant, a candidate in the 2011 Marlborough city election, intentionally forged a signature of a deceased resident in an attempt to provide himself with an advantage in the election,” said D.A. Gerry Leone. “These allegations are a direct violation of the people’s right to a true and honest democratic process and, under Massachusetts law, are criminal.”

When called at his business, Gemini Signs, on Tuesday, Evangelous said he was not aware that he had been indicted, saying he would respond once he familiarized himself with the charges.

As of this post Evangelous had still not responded to a request for comment from Marlborough Patch, but told one other media outlet that he considered the charges to be a mistake.

An arraignment date has not yet been set, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.

If eventually convicted of the accused offenses, Evangelous could face "not more than ten years in a state prison or in jail for not more than two years" on the count of forgery. As for the uttering and violating absentee voter laws, the Massachusetts General Laws chapter 56 section 27  says, "Whoever, not being entitled to vote under the laws relative to absent voting, votes or attempts to vote thereunder or whoever being entitled to vote under said laws knowingly votes or attempts to vote in violation thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and by imprisonment for not more than five years."

For additional details on this story, see our original report. 

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