Attorney General resloves campaign finance case with Beck, Heileson

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has reached a settlement in a case against eastern Idaho lawmakers Doyle Beck and Marvin C. “Chick” Heileson, both of Idaho Falls.

Wasden announced details of the settlement Friday. The Attorney General charged Beck and Heileson with misdemeanors in April for allegedly concealing the identity of the source of a campaign contribution.

Under terms of the agreement, Beck and Heileson have each agreed to pay a $250 civil fine, the maximum allowed under the law.

Beck and Heileson will also request that the Integrity in Government PAC file an amended report with the Idaho Secretary of State regarding a $12,000 contribution made to the PAC on May 7, 2014. The amended report will show that the contributor to the PAC was Heileson, with loan funds received from Beck. Both deny any wrongdoing, according to the settlement.

In return, Wasden agrees to dismiss the criminal charges filed against both men in Bonneville County.

“It’s important for Idaho’s citizens to know the source of contributions in our state’s elections,” Attorney General Wasden said. “I am pleased that the proper disclosure is now being made and I hope that all participants in our election system will fully understand and disclose in accordance with the Sunshine Law.”

Secretary of State Lawerence Denney said: “The purpose of Idaho’s Sunshine Law and the goal of our office is disclosure. With the help of the Attorney General we have obtained that. I hope that this action will inspire ongoing compliance with Idaho’s campaign finance laws.”

Wasden began investigating the 2014 contribution in January upon request of the Secretary of State. The criminal complaints alleged that Beck gave $12,000 to Heileson, who then donated the money to the Integrity in Government PAC without identifying Beck as the source of the money for the contribution.

When asked about the settlement Doyle Beck’s Attorney Scott McKay gave Local News 8 and KIDK 3 Eyewitness News the following statement:

“There was a dispute between the parties about whether any law was violated. Rather than spend resources fighting about this in court, we reached a settlement with the State which results in the dismissal of the misdemeanor cases. The Settlement Agreement also makes clear that Doyle Beck and Chick Heileson deny violating the law. The settlement brings closure to this situation and from Mr. Beck’s perspective, allows him to spend his summer with his grandchildren instead of in court.”