Former Chelsea Selectwoman Facing Federal Charges, Says She is Illiterate

Carole Swan testified in federal court that she is illiterate. Swan was a select-woman in the town of Chelsea and now is facing federal extortion charges. As a select-woman she spent 19 years signing warrants and conducting other town business.

According to the Kennebec Journal, Swan made the statement when she took the witness stand during a pretrial hearing, where she faces federal extortion charges for allegedly accepting kickbacks from a town road contractor, as well as other crimes. Mrs. Swan was a select-person in Chelsea from 1992 until 2011.

The indictment from the federal grand jury last year was for 17 separate charges. Her husband and local contractor Marshall Swan was also indicted on 10 charges. Both Swans have pleaded not guilty.