Times Staff Report

CROWN POINT | A former East Chicago councilman pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor count of making unauthorized poll entries and was sentenced to 30 days on probation.

Levones Tolbert, 67, was the highest-ranking official charged after a Joint Vote Fraud Task Force of Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and County Prosecutor Bernard Carter investigated the discredited May 2003 Democratic mayoral primary.

In that election, former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick's campaign manufactured a razor-thin victory with tainted absentee ballots.

The Indiana Supreme Court later overturned that result and voters replaced Pastrick with his chief opponent, George Pabey, in a special election in fall 2004.

Tolbert is a retired career police officer who served as chief security officer for the School City of East Chicago until his election in 1999 to the City Council representing the 6th district.

Tolbert did not run for re-election.