Former Board of Education Candidate Sentenced for Impersonating Secret Service Agent

Robert D. Ballinger, a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for Howard County Board of Education in 2004, 2010, and 2012, was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service for impersonating a Secret Service agent in federal court Monday, according to a Baltimore Sun report.

The prosecution and defense both described it as a sad case, in which Ballinger, 47, admitted he "shamed" himself and destroyed his career, according to the report.

Ballinger was charged after he displayed a secret service badge he said he bought on the internet at a First Mariner Bank in Ellicott City while trying to cash a $300 check drawn on his father's account in February, reported the Sun.

The report revealed a number of details about Ballinger, including that he worked as an intern for Republic Congressman Joseph Pitts, of Pennsylvania, despite claiming in his 2012 campaign he was a communications director; and that he was able to enter the presidential inaugural event in Washington in January wearing a Department of Defense pin he bought on the internet that is only issued to military personnel who serve as full-time military staff to the president.
Ballinger's green campaign signs were common throughout the county during the 2012 election. He finished fourth, one spot behind the three candidates who were elected, receiving 47,350 votes, about 4,000 votes behind third place candidate Ellen Flynn Giles.