Cannon Back In Charlotte To Face Additional Charges

CHARLOTTE, NC– We will see the ex mayor right here in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse for the first time since he reported to federal prison a year and four months ago.

We expect him to argue he voted out of habit, that he forgot it was illegal.

Last time the public heard from Ex-mayor Patrick Cannon…

” I go every year with my wife to vote.”

He was admitting to casting a vote as a convicted felon.

“This was a careless judgment in error on my behalf.” said Cannon

Cannon cast his early ballot two weeks after a judge sentenced him to 44 months in federal prison.

He pleaded guilty to accepting more than 50 thousand dollars in bribes from undercover fbi agents.

A convicted felon can’t vote.

“It doesn’t matter what his intentions are he either voted or he didn’t vote.”

WCCB Charlotte legal analyst John Snyder is a former district attorney in union county.

“Convicted felons in state court can’t run for public office so that actually may be why the District Attorney is bringing this so that if he gets out and he comes back to Charlotte he’s not immediately back in to politics.” said Snyder

Cannon is scheduled to get out of The Federal Prison in Morgantown as early as this summer.

That’s contingent on good behavior and no pending charges.

Legal analysts say Cannon has two options tomorrow, plead guilty to voter fraud and ask to serve the sentence while he finishes his time for corruption, or ask for a jury trial.