Texas mom must spend 8 years in prison for illegal voting

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Grand Prairie mother of four who drew national attention after a Tarrant County jury sentenced her to eight years in prison for illegal voting has lost her appeal.

The 2nd Court of Appeals this month upheld the original conviction and sentence of Rosa Maria Ortega.

“This case underscores the importance that Texans place on the institution of voting, and the hallowed principle that every citizen’s vote must count,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a written statement. “We will hold those accountable who falsely claim eligibility and purposely subvert the election process in Texas.”

Ortega, who was released from jail on an appeal bond a month after her 2017 conviction, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Calls to her appeals attorney, David Andrew Pearson; brother, Tony Ortega; and exfiance, Oscar Sherman, were not immediately returned.

And the attorney who represented her during the trial said he has lost touch with her.

“It has been two years,” said Clark Birdsall. “I don’t know where she is or what happened to her.”

Ortega, 39, could still file a petition for discretionary review with the Court of Criminal Appeals. It is not known whether she’ll be allowed to remain free on an appeal bond should she seek the review.