Fla. election fraud defendants seek dismissal

Lawyers for 6 defendants seeking dismissal of election fraud charges in north Florida case

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Published On: Oct 12 2012 12:07:13 PM EDT

MADISON, Fla. (AP) — Lawyers for six defendants in a north Florida election fraud case say they'll seek dismissal of the charges, arguing their clients did nothing wrong.

Circuit Judge Julian Collins said Friday he would set another hearing on the motions at a brief pretrial hearing in Madison.

The defendants include suspended Madison County School Board member Abra Hill Johnson.

The case of a second elected official, suspended Madison County Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods Williams, has been moved about 50 miles west to Tallahassee.

Two other defendants are in a pretrial diversion program after reaching a deferred prosecution agreement with the state.

All are accused of using fraudulent absentee ballots in 2010 to elect Johnson who won by 28 votes. They were arrested last November.