File photo of a courtroom. (credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)CINCINNATI (CBS Cleveland/AP) — A former Ohio poll worker sentenced to five years in prison for voting illegally on behalf of other people has been released from prison after less than a year behind bars.
Melowese Richardson of Madisonville was released Tuesday after her attorney says she gave him permission to reveal that she has bipolar disorder.
Her attorney, David Singleton, shared Richardson’s medical records with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters.
After reviewing the case, Deters asked Judge Robert Ruehlman to allow Richardson to be released.
“In the interest of justice, it is time for her to go home,” Deters said, according to WCPO-TV.
Ruehlman agreed and placed Richardson on five years of probation.
Singleton said justice was served with Richardson’s early release.
“Justice was done in this case today,”Singleton told WXIX-TV. “We are grateful to Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters for stepping up to ask the judge to release Melowese in light of the new information. We are thankful to Judge Ruehlman for revisiting his sentence and placing Ms. Richardson on probation.”
The 59-year-old Richardson previously told a TV station that she had voted multiple times for President Barack Obama on behalf of herself and family members. She had said she had no intent to commit voter fraud.
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