ARROYO GRANDE — A San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Gaea Edde Powell on all nine charges of election fraud stemming from the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral election cycles.
Powell was found guilty of eight felonies and one misdemeanor following a 10-day trial. The jury began deliberating at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 and returned its verdicts at 3 p.m.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19 in Department 5 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, with Judge Timothy S. Covello presiding.
The charges included voter registration fraud, perjury by declaration, filing false nomination or declaration papers, failure to provide written notification under the Political Reform Act, and fraudulent voting in the November 2022, March 2024 and November 2024 elections.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, evidence presented at trial showed Powell registered to vote in July 2022 using an address on James Way within Arroyo Grande city limits, despite residing at a home on Heritage Lane in unincorporated Arroyo Grande. Prosecutors said Powell used the James Way address in voter registration documents, declarations and nomination papers, and cast ballots issued to that address in three elections.
"I am grateful for the hard work this jury put into a case that stretched over several weeks. They listened carefully to every witness and did the hard work our system asks of ordinary citizens," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "This case is about accountability under the law for everyone, so that voters can have more trust in the election process. The integrity of our elections is paramount. This verdict makes clear that voters must register to vote in accordance with the law, and that potential candidates must be lawfully registered to vote in the jurisdiction where they intend to run for public office. Justice is blind. The law applies to everyone, no matter their status in the community and no matter their political affiliation, and every defendant will be treated fairly by this District Attorney's Office."
The prosecution also presented evidence concerning campaign finance reporting requirements. Investigators said Powell filed a statement indicating she did not intend to raise or spend more than $2,000, but later participated in raising and spending more than that amount on campaign mailers without filing the required amended notification.
Powell represented herself at trial after waiving her right to counsel.
“This is not about left versus right or right versus left. This is about what is right and wrong,” Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal said in closing arguments.
Powell remains out of custody pending sentencing under court-ordered conditions, including an order prohibiting her from molesting, annoying, threatening or harassing non-law enforcement witnesses in the case.