Timm Campaign Faces Fines for Fundraiser, Gambling

Lt. Col. Michael Timm's campaign for Spotsylvania County Sheriff hit a small snag in June following an investigation which recommended a $50 fine paid to the State Board of Elections for violating campaign finance regulations and state gambling laws. The recommended fine stems from two campaign fundraisers, a raffle and a "poker run" motorcycle ride. Virginia State Police and Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William F. Neely investigated the case. In a June 23 letter to the State Board of Elections, Neely details his investigation and recommends the fine. Timm is Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office's public information officer. 

"While Mr. Timm clearly violated Board of Elections fundraising regulations and policies, that such a violation was not willful or deliberate," reads the letter. "As such, it is my view that the appropriate remedy is to impose a $50 civil fine/penalty upon Mike Timm's campaign, which penalty is payable to the State Board of Elections."

Ronnie Curtis, a retired captain in the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, filed the complaint.  In a letter dated May 24, Curtis wrote to the State Board of Elections detailing the two violations. 

"Those entrusted with enforcing the law must not waiver in respecting or following the law," reads Curtis' letter. 

Neely described Curtis as a supporter of retired Spotsylvania deputy Roger Harris' campaign for sheriff. Harris and Timm are competing in a three way sheriff's race with Brian Bettis.

"It's pretty typical in these election cases," said Neely in an interview. "Most of these complaints come from the opposition camp."

Curtis' letter refers to two different campaign fundraisers. One is an  April 1 golf tournament campaign fundraiser at Lee's Hill Golf Club that was advertised as having a 50/50 raffle, along with door prizes, for those who participated. A photograph accompanying Curtis' letter shows a sign bearing Timm's campaign logo advertising the raffle on site. 

The other fundraiser in question is a "Historical Ride Poker Run" on May 7. The event was advertised with fliers featuring a smiling Timm in uniform. Co-sponsored by Princess Anne Street retailer Big Daddy Leather, participants paid between $10 and $20 for the privilege of touring from point to point collecting playing cards. Once all the points had been visited, participants gathered at Loriella Park and revealed their cards. The riders with the best hands won cash prizes. 

According to Neely, on June 14 the Board of Elections referred the two complaints of alleged campaign finance violations to his office. The state Attorney General's office also received the complaints and directed State Police to look into the matter to see if a criminal investigation was necessary. The State Police assigned Culpeper based Special Agent RT Hankings to the case. 

Neely and Hankings interviewed Timm at the same time on June 22. Timm told the two that his father serves as his campaign treasurer, but Timm sponsored the two fundraisers. 

"Mr. Timm freely admitted that the raffle and the poker run took place as part of his campaigns fundraising efforts," reads the letter. and that he had simply overlooked the board's fundraising regulations and policies which forbid raffles and which limit 'Monte Carlo' type events to those which would pass charitable gambling muster."

Neely told Timm that he was not allowed to use raffles or poker runs as campaign fundraisers and had Timm agree to stop such fundraisers.

"I advised him that raffles are limited under Virginia law to approved charitable fundraisers and that poker runs, while a type of event apparently also commonly used for charitable fundraising, appear to me to arguably be illegal gambling - at least when cash prizes are awarded," wrote Neely in the letter. 

In an interview, Neely described the violations as "minor". 

Attempts to contact Timm last night at his office and cell phones were unsuccessful.