Mixed Verdict for Woman Accused in Post Office Petition Case

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A judge says a Black Hawk woman violated federal regulations last spring while gathering petition signatures at a Rapid City post office.

Sixty-nine-year-old Roberta Helmerick was ordered to pay $225 in fines and fees but will not serve any jail time.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman found Helmerick not guilty Thursday on a second charge of impeding or disturbing the public.

Helmerick was arrested April 15. She was part of a group of petitioners attempting to gather signatures to force a public vote on a proposed plan to raise property taxes to help schools. Post office officials called police after repeatedly asking petitioners to move away from the building's entrance.

The petition drive succeeded. Voters soundly defeated the proposal on June 2.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.