The federal court reversed his conviction on federal programs bribery and conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, the ruling on Thursday said. Three other counts were upheld.

When a judge asked if he wanted to go through with his plea, Ivan Maldonado Jr. gave a heavy sigh before saying yes.

"We have got to get this party back to a place where all Republicans feel included and supported," Holly Edwards said about her decision to run for chair of the Cabarrus County Republican Party.

Michael Edward Lemarque, 33, of Ephrata, is accused of writing 51 checks to himself in the victim's name over a two-year span, Fairview Township Police claim.