Former Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd has pleaded not guilty to five counts of perjury.
Rudd entered the pleas Friday in Lake County Circuit Court. The 70-year-old is accused of having nominating petitions with signatures of people who were dead or who later claimed they didn't sign when he was seeking re-election in 2016.
Rudd dropped out of the Democratic primary after it was determined he didn't have enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions.
Rudd faces 2 to 5 years in prison if he is found guilty of the felony charges. His trial is scheduled for July 10. He was released from the Lake County jail after posting bail.
Rudd's attorney Jed Stone said he plans to file a motion within the next few weeks to have the charges dismissed.
