GOP registration collector arrested

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The owner of a firm hired to register thousands of Republican voters in California has been arrested for alleged registration fraud, officials said.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Mark Jacoby was arrested in Ontario, Calif., by state and local investigators late Saturday. California and local investigators charge that Jacoby fraudulently registered himself to vote at a childhood California home, but doesn't live there any longer. They allege he registered fraudulently so he could meet the requirement that signature gatherers be registered in California, the Times said.

The California Republican Party had hired Jacoby's firm, Young Political Majors, to register new GOP voters in the state.

However, dozens of voters said they were duped into registering as Republicans by the firm, saying they were told they were signing a petition to toughen penalties against child molesters. The Times said the firm was paid up to $12 for every state resident registered as a Republican.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office and several other agencies have begun investigations, the newspaper said. The Times said it was unable to reach Jacoby for comment.