Mike Hein - Guilty of Campaign Finance Fraud

Naran, is there any follow up on the complaint? Its 4 years old and just recently this very blog posted much about another couple and the allegations that were later dismissed..I don't mean to trivialize but this one is 4 years old, was there a final outcome?

I also hope to see if a resolution was the followup ,either continued or discharged at the hearing.

I think Mike Hein is the "liberty" candidate Bruce.

Wait! What?!

Please, tell me more!

This guy allegedly threatened to kill someone?

As I indicated, I posted the ROI information from "Key Light's" other thread. Perhaps that member has more information, or an article indicating the eventual outcome. I do not have that information.

I have seen a PDF of the document in question, and it appears to be genuine.

I Goggled the post information and found nothing except the recent oct. I doubt atthetimew if there had been any followup it would have made it on AMG given the past history w/ this individual.
From all I can remember and have heard they guy is a jerk at least IMHO,however this post is very questionable lacking any followup.

The court issued a temporary protection order, and then after a hearing on the merits of the complaint, granted a permanent order. Three months later, in Feb. 2009, after another hearing date, the court dismissed the order when both parties failed to appear -- a fairly common outcome. I won't speculate as to the circumstances here, but oftentimes these things get dropped as a part of some other agreement. The court's findings do indicate that there was some substance to the woman's complaint. In all, there was a restraining order against Hein for about five months. Perhaps the candidate can provide some background.

No ,the need to do so IMHO, is moot by the fact that it was dismissed by "failure to appear" as to why the didn't etc. etc. ,becomes immaterial .
But of course can be used as a source of cheap shot material to be used during a campaign. Particularly when it comes w/ incomplete information
that you obviously had ,but chose not to post w/ your original post , that speaks volumes above anything the jerk could add.
The fact that IMHO the person is a jerk of major proportions ,particularly well known here about ,was enough.

Immaterial? A court of law found as a matter of fact that Hein threatened to kill a woman and himself. This is very material when it comes to choosing a candidate for elected office, and what happened after that is procedural; the PFA wasn't dismissed on its merits. Spinning someone's vote on committee is a cheap shot. Bringing to light a documented history of violent activity is a legitimate part of the vetting process. If there is some information as to why this incident shouldn't speak to Hein's character, I will be the first to listen.

I agree; this is relevant.

Unfortunately this guy is in my district. I voted for his opponent on the basis that he was not Michael Hein.

Key light would you have added followup information if myself and Robert hadn't asked about it ?
Never mind I know the answer.
Since you assumed the responsibility to vet someone here it would have been good form to include complete information.

Looks like Hein had his butt handed to him by Andrew Worcester and voters in Augusta.

I guess Hein accomplished his life's work by proving that there is a God and He shall smite the wicked!

WEll said Betsy Ross

This isn't over. Hein is still facing the charge of attempted theft by deception.

GFood and one hopes that will be persued w/ complete and current information.

I'm kind of surprised that Hein got 44%. I thought he would get a lot less than that.

Ah, the corrupting influence of clean elections money....

The irony is priceless.

As an alleged constitutionalist, Mr. Hein should have studied up on the Founding Fathers: "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is," said Jefferson, "sinful and tyrannical"

So much for "clean" elections. As I recall, the Soviets also financed the campaigns of all who sought "election" to public office:-)

Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:24:47 +0000
Subject: Hein Press Release

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brenda L. Kielty

July 3, 2012 (207) 626-8577

Former House Candidate Pleads Guilty, Sentenced for Clean Election Act Violation

AUGUSTA – Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Michael G. Hein, 42, of Augusta was sentenced today following his plea of guilty to one count of willfully violating the Maine Clean Election Act.

Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy sentenced Hein to 7 days in jail, consistent with the State’s recommendation and a plea agreement.

Hein, a former candidate for House District 57 (part of Augusta) had misrepresented to the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices that he had collected $5 contributions from 60 registered voters in his district in order to qualify for public campaign funds. In fact, 15 of the contributors signing the forms in support of his application had not made the $5 contribution because they either refused or were not asked. Hein had personally collected the signatures submitted to the Commission as “qualifying contributions.”

The Commission opened an investigation into Hein’s application when a voter informed the Commission staff that Hein had asked her to sign his form acknowledging receipt of her $5 qualifying contribution but had told her she did not have to pay the $5. Had the Commission not uncovered Hein’s misrepresentation, he would have qualified for $486 in public campaign funds for the primary election and $3,937 for the general election.

“The requirement that candidates gather a specified number of qualifying contributions ensures that they have sufficient support to warrant the disbursement of public funds,” said Attorney General Schneider. “Misrepresentations about qualifying contributions, whatever the amount, undermine the system of Clean Elections.”

This case was investigated by Attorney General Schneider’s Investigations Unit. Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin handled this matter for Attorney General Schneider’s Criminal Division.

Brenda L. Kielty

Special Assistant
To The Attorney General
6 State House Station | Augusta, ME 04333

207.626.8577 (direct) | 207.287.3145 (fax)

brenda.kielty@maine.gov | www.maine.gov/ag

###

Updated: 10:52 AM
Ex-Republican candidate admits election fraud

AUGUSTA —...snip

Michael Hein,..originally charged with attempted theft by deception, but that charge was dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea....

....snip
Robbin said the charge of willful violation of the Clean Election Act best reflects what happened and Hein's desire to avoid having a theft by deception conviction on his record.

Hein had no previous criminal record. He is to report to jail July 9 to begin serving the seven-day sentence.

Source

Ahh! Some good news, for a change!

In other news today, a Kennebunk woman collapsed in what's been described as a 'giggling fit". A neighbor said she saw the woman pick up her newspaper and appear to be browsing through it on her way to her house when she began giggling uncontrollably and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Officials say there's a fear of dehydration due to the tears. We'll have more on this story as it develops.

More like "uncontrollable nausea," Mike.
:)

Why does Hein get a jail sentence when Dill bragged about using Clean funds to buy a laptop and nothing happens to her?

Apollo, what Hein did was clearly in violation of Maine law regarding clean election funding. He fraudulently claimed to have met the threshold of individual donations required to set up a CE campaign, and this was proven in court.

Dill is a nasty piece of work, and while we can certainly agree that the purchase of the machine and subsequent boasting about it don't exactly meet the straight-face test, the argument COULD be made that a computer is a legitimate campaign expense - particularly if used in lieu of more conventional approaches such as shoe leather, yard signs and bumper stickers.

They got Hein dead to rights. Dill's case is more shady. In more ways than one.

Dill bought a MacbookPro to the tune of $1,200 to use in her campaign in August, 2010. Perfectly legal I think. Then in the fall she bragged she was going to buy it back personally from her campaign for $400. Not quite so legal in that fair market value must enter into the transaction at some point.

I was in the market for a new MacbookPro and offered $800 and eventually bought it. I got a deal and an additional $400 was returned to the state treasury which wouldn't have been had her original plan played out. She's a player lacking in the most basic of ethics.

charlie

Hein finally saw the light, so to speak.

There was enough evidence for a jury to convict him of the original charge. Had that happened, Hein would have gone to jail for months, not days.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, his old boss – Michael S. Heath – in a lame defense of Hein says, “…if Mike was a friend of the establishment the matter would have been dropped right then.”

I don’t think so, Mr. Heath.

Meantime, kiss your pal good-bye for 7 days.

BTW - We all know that Hein is a strong Ron Paul supporter. Wasn't Heath Paul's fair-haired boy in Iowa?

Just sayin'...

the fact that Heath is leading the charge against SSM gives it a hugely increased chance of passing this time. He is a poster child for evil.

.