CROWN POINT | A Lake Criminal Court judge placed a suspended county police officer on 90 days probation Monday for vote fraud. Ponciano Herrera, 42, of East Chicago, pleaded guilty Monday to a reduced misdemeanor charge of acquiring a phony ballot in the 2003 East Chicago Democratic primary election.

The plea was part of an agreement in which the prosecutor's office and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter's office dismissed felony counts against Herrera, making it possible for him to return to his job as a county police officer.

Herrera became too emotional to talk Monday when describing the arc of his life in which he was raised in East Chicago, joined the U.S. Air Force, returned home and worked 15 years as an officer trusted enough by Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez to work as a liaison between the sheriff and bereaved families of fallen area soldiers.

Herrera admitted handling a forged absentee ballot in the disputed 2003 primary that was judged to be so corrupt the results in the mayoral election were overturned, and former Mayor Robert Pastrick's long political career ended in a special 2004 election.

Herrera said he has been suspended without pay from his police job by the sheriff since being charged two years ago and said he has had to support his girlfriend and their two daughters by working for the Gary street and sanitation district.

Herrera said he now faces the results of a disciplinary hearing before the County Police Merit Board to determine if he will resume his duties as a police officer.