Rep. John Ley reaches plea agreement

Rep. John Ley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor voter violations, receiving a suspended sentence and probation after facing felony charges over his 2022 election registration. File photo

Ley was facing two felony charges for allegedly registering to vote and as a candidate in an incorrect voter district in 2022; he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and will receive a suspended 364-day sentence and one year probation

Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today

State Rep. John Ley pleaded guilty Friday to two voter violation charges. He will receive a 364-day suspended sentence, one year probation and a $500 fine.

Ley was charged with allegedly registering to vote and as a candidate in an incorrect voter district in 2022. Ley was arraigned on Nov. 28, 2024. Ley was a Republican candidate for Washington state’s 18th Legislative District state representative Position No. 2 in 2022.

“I never intended to violate the law, nor do I believe that I have. I maintain my actual innocence,’’ Ley said in a statement provided to Judge John Fairgrieve at Friday’s hearing.

Ley was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in November 2024 in spite of the voter fraud charges he faced from the 2022 election. Ley, who owns a home in Camas, was elected to represent the 18th Legislative District. Ley had been a resident of the 18th District for many years until the boundary changed prior to the 2022 election, moving his Camas home into the 17th Legislative District.

Ley filed for candidacy in 2022 at a Battle Ground residence where he said he had rented a room from a friend. After a challenge was filed to his candidacy, Ley rented an apartment in Hazel Dell, which he still maintains. In 2022, a judge ruled that Ley’s votes in the 2022 primary election would not be valid. He did not advance to the 2022 general election.

Prior to the 2024 primary election, Ley filed as a candidate in the 18th District using the address of the Hazel Dell apartment he has rented for more than two years. Another challenge was made to his candidacy, but this time Ley’s candidacy was upheld and he advanced through the 2024 primary election and was elected to the state House of Representatives in the 2024 general election.

“I would like to add that I have been a resident of the 18th legislative district for many years and have lawfully voted there in several elections prior to 2022,’’ Ley said in Friday’s statement to Judge Fairgrieve. “During this period, I became deeply involved with issues important to the 18th legislative district. After the legislative boundaries were adjusted, I was determined to maintain my lawful residence within the 18th district.

“I thoroughly researched my legal options and closely examined the voter challenge against Donald Orange and the decision by Auditor Greg Kimsey affirming Orange as a qualified voter in the district,’’ stated Ley, referring to Orange’s race for the Vancouver Port Commission. “Based on this precedent, I secured a residence in the 18th district, guided by Auditor Kimsey’s ruling. I believed then, as I do now, that I was a lawfully qualified resident and candidate for the 18th district. I understand that Auditor Kimsey disagrees about my residency in 2022. However, recently Auditor Kimsey confirmed that I am currently a lawful resident of the 18th legislative district. It was never my intention to register in a district where I did not have lawful residency, and I apologize for any confusion my registration and candidacy in 2022 may have caused. I look forward to resolving this matter.’’

Ley was represented by Vancouver Attorney Angus Lee, who called the plea bargain “a business decision.’’

“It’s important to acknowledge that he’s not admitting guilt,’’ Lee told Clark County Today. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He states very clearly that he was always intending to do right. There’s no counter to what he said in that regard. I think this is all water under the bridge at this point and he can move forward and continue to do the great work he is doing for all of us in Olympia.’’