Thomas Rudd, former Lake County coroner, hires election law experts

Former Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd has hired two election law attorneys to assist in his defense against perjury charges. The attorneys hired by Rudd, 70, will assist defense attorney Jed Stone. Rudd faces two to five years in prison if found guilty any one of the five counts of perjury he is charged with. Probation is also possible. Prosecutors allege Rudd filed more than 15 nominating petitions he knew contained false information ahead of his unsuccessful re-election bid last year. The perjury charges allege Rudd knowingly made false statements about the validity of his nominating petitions after he filed the documents with Lake County Clerk's Office in 2015. Rudd said under oath the signatures were genuine and signed in his presence. His trial is set for Oct. 23. He's free from jail after posting 10 percent of his $150,000 bail in February. The two sides are due back in court Aug. 31.