Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney Charges Man for Illegally Voting in 2020 Election

Anthony Van Egtern

If convicted of the Class I felony, Anthony Van Egtern faces imprisonment up to 3 years and 6 months and/or a fine up to $10,000.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric J. Toney has charged a Campbellsport man with illegally voting in the Nov. 3, 2020 election because the man thought the country was “going to hell.”

Toney announced that Anthony Van Egtern, of Campbellsport, has been charged with a Class I felony for illegally voting as a disqualified person in the November 3, 2020 election. Van Egtern is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Dec. 7, 2021 at 9 a.m.

“This is the second Fond du Lac County resident charged with illegally voting in the November 3, 2020 election,” Toney said.

Anthony Van Egtern’s Criminal Complaint

Read the criminal complaint here: Criminal Complaint_1 – Van Egtern, Anthony J; 2021CF000923; Van Egtern, Anthony J_2263941_1

“These prosecutions are not indicative that the election was stolen but elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and the integrity of our electoral process must be protected at every turn. We will continue to prosecute any circumstances of voter fraud, as allowed by law, in order to safeguard our electoral process and ensure the public has confidence in our elections. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.”

If convicted of the Class I felony, Anthony Van Egtern faces imprisonment up to 3 years and 6 months and/or a fine up to $10,000.

The complaint says:

“On September 21, 2021 the Wisconsin Elections Commission employees Nathan Judnic and Jodi Kitts submitted letters and documentation to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office indicating that Anthony J. Van Egtern, the defendant, was on probation or parole for a felony conviction and voted on November 3, 2020 in the general election at the Taycheedah Town Hall located at W4295 Kiekaefer Parkway, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The letter from Jodi Kitts also indicated that Anthony Van Egtern was on active probation beginning on December 11, 2018, which included election day November 3, 2020, and was scheduled to end probation on December 11, 2020.

…Prior to signing the Application it required the defendant to acknowledge that “I am a qualified elector” and “not otherwise disqualified from voting.”

…Anthony Van Egtern signed the poll book as voter #1252…Complainant has also reviewed a copy of the Judgment of Conviction from Ozaukee County Case No. 18CF310. The forms reflect that Anthony Van Egtern was convicted of a felony on December 11, 2018, and sentenced to 2years of probation with a withheld sentence and 75 days of conditional jail time. Complaint reviewed a copy of the plea questionnaire and waiver of right form from 18CF310 in which the Defendant signed, which states “I understand that if I am convicted of any felony, I may not vote in any election until my civil rights are restored.”

Detective Fink reviewed the materials provided by the Wisconsin Election Commission and Detective Fink interviewed the defendant on November 8, 2021 at his residence. The defendant initially denied having voted in in the November 3, 2020 election.

Detective Fink then showed the defendant his plea/waiver form from 18CF310 and the defendant confirmed the form had his signature on it. Detective Fink then showed the Defendant a copy of the November 3, 2020 poll book from Taycheedah including the poll book signature. Detective Fink pointed out that signatures from the two forms looked to be the same. Detective Fink then asked the Defendant if he voted and the Defendant stated “Okay, I’m not going to lie, it was me.” The Defendant then said he was freaking out about it and that he did do it and was not going to lie.

Detective Fink asked the Defendant why he voted and the Defendant stated he voted because he thought it was important to vote and the country was going to hell.

Detective Fink reviewed a copy of the Department of Corrections “Discharge Certificate” for the Defendant, which stated that effective December 11, 2020 the Defendant was discharged from probation and his civil rights were restored, meaning the Defendant was ineligible to vote on November 3, 2020.”

Online court records show his felony offense was for marijuana possession, second plus offense. Anthony Van Egtern has multiple other past felony and criminal cases as well.