The Missouri Ethics Commission has imposed a provisional $2,250 fine against Daviess County’s newly elected sheriff, Ben Becerra.
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A consent order was entered by the Missouri Ethics Commission on Dec. 15, 2008, against Ben Becerra, the newly elected sheriff of Daviess County. The ethics commission is charged with enforcement of campaign finance disclosure laws (RSMo. 130).
The order states that the parties (Missouri Ethics Commission vs. Ben Becerra, candidate, and Ben Becerra for Sheriff, committee) have filed a joint stipulation of facts, waiver of hearings before the Missouri Ethics Committee, and consent order. The Missouri Ethics Commission has found that the respondents Ben Becerra and Ben Becerra for Sheriff violated five Missouri statutes.
Sheriff Becerra made this comment in response to the complaint filed against him during the General election: "I learned that when I spent money out of my own funds for my campaign during the Primary it was to be reported as not only expenditure, but also as a contribution. For this reason I exceeded the limit required and should have created a committee and filed disclosure reports. The formal complaint is how I learned of this requirement. I immediately formed a committee and filed all the required paperwork to be in compliance. Again, I thank my supporters and ask for your continued support."
The Ethics Commission has directed that the terms and orders of the joint stipulation be adopted and implemented as follows:
1) Respondents will comply with all relevant sections of Chapter 130, RSMo.
2) A $2,250 fee will be imposed against Ben Becerra, pursuant to 105.961.4(6) RSMo. However, if respondent Ben Becerra pays $225 of that fee within 45 days after the date of the order, the remainder of the fee will be stayed for two years, subject to further provisions as follows:
If respondent Ben Becerra has not committed any further violations of the campaign finance disclosure laws during the two year stay, he will not be required to pay the balance of the fee. If, however, he is found to have violated the campaign finance laws pursuant to Chapter 130, RSMo 2000, during the two-year stay, Becerra will be required to pay the balance of the fee as originally imposed by the commission, due immediately upon final adjudication finding him guilty of such a violation.