Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin is filing charges against Allentown third ward judge Everett Edward Bickford, also known as Erika Bickford, also known as Reverend Everett E. Bickford.

Allegations of irregularities were made following the June 2 primary, and during an investigation witnesses allegedly observed Bickford using a pen on submitted ballots, and she was warned to stop.

Martin says Bickford voluntarily surrendered to detectives and confessed to “darkening the circles” on about 30 ballots, but not altering them in any way.

Martin concluded such was the case and could not prove beyond a doubt otherwise. Bickford is charged with insertion and alteration of entries in documents, and prying into ballots. These offenses are ungraded misdemeanors.