MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) – The woman who helped forge ballots in last year’s election in Mesa County will avoid prison time after she pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 15 to her role in the scheme.

Sally Maxedon, 60, received a 24-month deferred judgment sentence, two years of probation, and 100 hours of community service as part of her plea agreement. Her probation and deferred sentence will run concurrently.

Maxedon and Vicki Stuart, who was sentenced to five years in prison last month, filled out Mesa County residents’ ballots – without their knowledge – and then mailed them. Stuart stole the ballots when she was a U.S. Postal Service worker at the time the crimes occurred.

The ballots were later pinged by Mesa County Elections, which determined the signatures were fraudulent.

During the sentence hearing, it was shown that the idea came from Stuart, and she had Maxedon fill out a few of the ballots.

Maxedon, whose voice cracked while speaking to Judge Brian Flynn, said she felt “horrible” and “ashamed” for cooperating with Stuart.

“I’m fully accountable for what I’ve done,” Maxedon said.

District Attorney Dan Rubinstein said Maxedon’s testimony was key in Stuart’s sentencing.

Stuart was the one responsible for the scheme as she wanted to fill out ballots from those who she thought were illegal citizens or who might vote against the way she wanted, Rubinstein said.

Judge Flynn, who also sentenced Stuart, said he “didn’t buy her story” of wanting to test the integrity of the voting system. He asserted that she instead wanted to influence the election as she wouldn’t know whether the ballots were flagged as fraudulent or not.

“Someone in Miss Stuart’s position would have no idea because she wouldn’t be alerted as to whether or not the ballot has been accepted or not,” Flynn said at Stuart’s sentencing.