Freshman Del. Tiffany Alston (D-Dist.24) of Mitchellville has denied charges filed against her this week of taking money from her election campaign for personal use.

“I emphatically deny any criminal wrongdoing and look forward to the appropriate opportunity to address the accusations lodged against me,” Alston, 34, said in a statement.

“My family and I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the hundreds of constituents, friends, colleagues and well-wishers who have reached out. ... I want them to know that their trust in me will be justified when this process is ultimately concluded.”

Alston, elected in November, was charged Friday in Anne Arundel Circuit Court with one felony count of theft, two misdemeanor counts of theft and misappropriation by a fiduciary and two election law violations.

According to the indictment, Alston used campaign funds for $1,250 in personal expenses, about $3,600 in wedding expenses and $660 toward the salary of an employee of her Lanham-based law firm.

The checks intended to cover the cost of Alston’s wedding bounced because of insufficient funds in the account, according to the Office of the State Prosecutor.

Alston, who was criticized this spring for co-sponsoring but later voting against a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Maryland, raised more than $3,600 in campaign contributions in 2010, according to campaign finance reports. Much of that Alston loaned to herself. She spent about $7,800.

Her arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 12 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, followed by a Nov. 18 status conference. Her trial is expected to start Jan. 10, said Jim Cabezas, chief investigator at the Office of the State Prosecutor.

Alston will not be arrested, but will be given summons to report to the arraignment hearing, he said.

If convicted, Alston could face a sentence of as long as 10 years for the felony theft charge and 18 months for the misdemeanor theft charge, said State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt.

The maximum sentence for misappropriation by a fiduciary is five years, and each election-law violation could carry a sentence of as long as one year. Alston could be fined more than $60,000 plus restitution.

Maryland state law requires an elected official who is convicted of or who pleads no contest to a felony resign his or her post.

Prince George’s residents might be familiar with this law, as former County Councilwoman Leslie E. Johnson (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville resigned her seat in July after pleading guilty to a federal corruption charge in June.

Some council members said last fall Johnson should not take office. The council called for her immediate resignation in early July, although she opted to remain a member of the council until July 31. Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Her husband, former county executive Jack B. Johnson (D), who was arrested in November 2010 near the end of his term, pleaded guilty in May to taking more than $200,000 in bribes from developers.

“You have this negative publicity with the former county executive and his wife, and then you have another episode with Alston,” said William Lewis, a professor of government at Bowie State University.

“There’s no room for further negative publicity. The county is trying to recover.”

The federal corruption trial of state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) of District Heights began this week, and former Capitol Heights mayor Darrell Miller was indicted Friday on one court of felony theft, one misdemeanor and three election law violations during his unsuccessful 2010 bid for the District 7 seat on the County Council.

Both the House of Delegates and the state Senate have the power to expel a member by a two-thirds vote, according to the state constitution.

Expulsion is rare, said David Warner, a reference librarian for the state’s Department of Legislative Services.

The last member removed from office, Sen. Larry Young (D-Dist. 44) of Baltimore, was expelled in 1998 after a joint ethics committee found he did not disclose conflicts of interest, and improperly used his title and an expense account, according to the committee’s report.

“The charges against Del. Tiffany Alston are in the hands of the criminal justice system,” said House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis in a statement. “Once the judicial process has concluded, we will determine the appropriate course of action.”

abrownback@gazette.net