Former political consultant for ex-Congressman Scott Taylor takes plea deal in petition scandal case

A former political consultant for ex-U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor avoided prison Monday at the Virginia Beach Circuit Court by pleading no contest to three misdemeanor charges of neglect of election duty.

Robert “Rob” Catron received a three-year suspended sentence. He was ordered to pay court costs, $7,500 in fines and to maintain good behavior for the next 12 months.

Catron, who now works at the Alcalde & Fay, a lobbying firm in Arlington, was facing 10 counts of making false statements and election fraud stemming from a petition scandal during Taylor’s 2018 campaign for a second term in Congress. Each count is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors reduced three of the felony charges to misdemeanors. The other charges were dropped.

Catron, represented by defense attorney James Broccoletti, declined to give a statement to the court.

Diane Toscano, a Virginia Beach attorney representing Taylor, told The Virginian-Pilot that Catron’s sentencing brought everything “to closure.” Taylor, who left office at the end of 2018, has not been charged with any crimes in connection with the investigation.

“Rogue employees violated the people’s trust,” she wrote Monday. “Scott’s political opponents wrongly attempted to link him to it, which the public now knows was nothing more than a cheap political smear. Today’s case makes all that clear.”

Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle recused himself from Catron’s case because his brother, Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle, had signed one of the petitions. Prosecution was handled by the Roanoke commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

Three of Taylor’s other former staffers were also hit with charges stemming from the scandal.

Taylor, a Republican, was running against Democratic challenger Elaine Luria — who ultimately defeated him — in 2018.

He and his staff helped independent candidate Shaun Brown get on the ballot by circulating petitions calling for her name to be added. State Democrats believe Taylor wanted Brown in the race to siphon votes from Luria.

Separate investigations by The Virginian-Pilot, WHRO Public Media and state Democrats showed that at least four people listed on the petitions were dead. Dozens of other signatures had been forged.

The staffers had all signed a notarized affidavit stating they had witnessed all the signatures.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com

Jane Harper contributed to this report.