FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tontitown councilwoman was found guilty by a Washington County Circuit judge Monday of making a false statement on a petition verification form last year.
Rhonda Doudna, 50, of 462 Pozza Lane in Tontitown was found guilty by Judge Mark Lindsay during a three-hour bench trial. Lindsay fined Doudna $500. She was given no jail time.
The offense is a class D felony punishable by up to six years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Doudna contends the investigation was politically motivated and said she plans to appeal her conviction.
Under Arkansas law, a petition containing signatures must be verified by the person who circulated the sheet of the petition. Doudna contended she and Henry Piazza, another council member, went to six houses the day of the alleged violation and took turns going to the doors.
"Henry had the petition. I was in Henry's truck sitting in the driveway," Doudna said.
Piazza also testified he and Doudna were canvassing together to collect signatures.
Residents Joe Edgmon and Richard and Sarah Russell testified they signed petitions and Doudna was not present to witness their signatures. Sarah Russell said she did not know Doudna.
Doudna said she saw all three sign the petitions while they were standing on their front porches.
Lindsay noted some of the parties don't appear to like each other. Edgmon and Doudna often are on opposite sides politically.
"There's at least some tension, you might say some bad blood, between Ms. Doudna and Mr. Edgmon," Lindsay said. "This basically comes down to the credibility of witnesses."
Lindsay said the Russells appeared credible and were both adamant they were inside their home when they signed the petitions in the presence of Piazza.
A complaint was filed with the Tontitown Police Department on March 12. Witnesses told investigators Doudna was not the person who collected their signatures April 28, 2014.
Doudna signed off on the signatures, verifying them, according to court documents. The petition eventually led to a Tontitown referendum in November where voters returned the city to a second-class status and turned the Planning Commission into a Planning Board, according to Doudna.
Doudna was sworn in as a member of the City Council in January.
NW News on 11/10/2015