Clayton Walker was an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota last year. He had not qualified for the ballot, and he had been prosecuted because some signatures on his unsuccessful petition appeared to have been forgeries. According to this story, there was a possibility that he could have been sentenced to 24 years in prison. However, a plea bargain resulted in his pleading guilty to two felonies, and it is likely, but not certain, that he will avoid serving time in prison. He has a two-year sentence but he is likely to receive probation. That will be determined on September 15, 2015.