Former GOP official sentenced to 10 months for phone-jamming

CONCORD, N.H. Former Republican National Committee official James Tobin was sentenced to ten months in prison today for his role in an Election Day phone-jamming plot against New Hampshire Democrats.

Tobin, of Bangor, Maine, was found guilty in December on two felony telephone harassment charges. He also was fined ten-thousand dollars followed by two years probation. Prosecutors had asked for a two-year prison sentence.

Tobin, who s 45, was convicted of helping a top state GOP official find someone to jam Democratic get-out-the-vote lines on Election Day 2002. Republican John Sununu defeated then-Governor Jeanne Shaheen for the U.S. Senate that day.

During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe said he was impressed by character witnesses who testified on Tobin's behalf, but wished Tobin -- quote -- had a better sense of how serious this was.