LITTLE ROCK — A former state representative convicted of bribing voters with the help of his father and campaign workers was sentenced to three years' probation, including nine months of house arrest, Thursday afternoon in federal court.
Hudson Hallum will also be required to serve 100 hours of community service and pay a $20,000 fine. During his home confinement, he will be allowed to go only to work.
The scheme involved bribing voters to support Hallum in multiple special elections with cash, cheap vodka and chicken dinners.
Hallum; Hallum's father and campaign manager, Kent Hallum; and West Memphis City Councilman Phillip Wayne Carter all pleaded guilty to election-fraud charges in September.
Kent Hallum was also sentenced Thursday afternoon, receiving a similar sentence to his son. Judge Kristine G. Baker handed down a sentence of three years' probation and nine months of home confinement, plus 100 hours of community service. His fine was less than Hudson's, at $10,000.
Carter had been sentenced May 22 to three years of probation, with five months of home confinement. Sam Malone, a former West Memphis police officer who assisted in the bribes, pleaded guilty and was sentenced May 21 to three years' probation, plus 7.2 hours of community service.
Prosecutors said Hallum bribed voters and used absentee ballots to commit fraud in the 2011 election for his District 54 seat serving Crittenden County. Hallum resigned days after pleading guilty.
Green Party Rep. Fred Smith won Hallum's seat in November.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.