Shakir Khan, a former Lodi City Councilmember, has accepted a plea deal in his election fraud case.
Khan entered a no contest plea in San Joaquin County Court.
The backstory: Last February, Khan was arrested on 14 felony counts of voter fraud from his 2020 election to the city council.
- The charges included falsifying voter registration, submission of fraudulent candidacy, aiding and abetting the commission of fraud, subscription of fictitious names to nomination petitions, fraudulently casting votes and others.
- Khan initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in November, and while he had resigned from the Lodi City Council, he later argued that he was coerced into signing a letter of resignation by Lodi Mayor Mikey Hothi.
The big picture: Facing a maximum of 40 years in prison if convicted, Khan agreed to a plea deal that will see him serve two years in San Joaquin County Jail.
- He could end up being released after around one year in jail because of credits for time served, his attorney Allen Sawyer said in a statement.
What they’re saying: “The decision to enter a plea of no contest with a West declaration is not one that comes lightly,” Sawyer said. “However, Mr. Khan has chosen to take this path as a means to an end, ensuring that he can return to his family in the shortest time possible. He has a wife and young children whose well-being has been at the forefront of his considerations throughout this process.”
