Ex-US Senate Candidate Clayton Walker Pleads Guilty to Election Law Charges

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Former South Dakota U.S. Senate candidate Clayton Walker has pleaded guilty to election law violations.

Clayton's plea came Wednesday, two days after his trial on multiple felony charges began in Pierre.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says the 33-year-old Walker pleaded guilty to one count of offering false or forged instrument for filing and one count of perjury.

The Black Hawk man is scheduled to be sentenced September 12th. He is facing up to two years in prison for each charge.

Authorities accuse Walker of submitting nominating petitions that included names of dead people, fictitious people and Hollywood celebrities.

Walker ran as an independent last year but failed to make the November ballot.

Walker could not immediately be reached Wednesday. He represented himself after three court-appointed attorneys said he wouldn't cooperate.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.