LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Two more eastern Kentucky residents face charges that they helped buy votes for candidates in last year’s May primary.

Roosevelt “Sonny” Swartz, 68, of Olympia was indicted on charges that in early May 2006, Swartz and Bath County Judge-Executive Walter Shrout gave money to five middle-men to pay voters to cast ballots for Shrout in the May primary, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

Charles “Chuck” Hart, 54, of Salt Lick, was indicted on eight charges including vote-buying, making false statements to a federal agent and trying to influence a member of the jury of Bath County Attorney Donald “Champ” Maze.

Maze went on trial in February on charges that he gave people money to buy votes and for trying to persuade two potential witnesses to lie to federal authorities about his involvement in the vote-buying scheme. During the trial, Maze was arrested on jury-tampering charges. Maze ultimately pleaded guilty to several vote-buying related charges.

Authorities said Friday that the investigation is continuing into what they are calling flagrant vote-buying, which has resulted in charges against 12 Bath County residents, including two elected officials.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader,

Http://www.kentucky.com

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