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A West Bend man told police he intentionally scribbled over petitions seeking the recall of Gov. Scott Walker with the hopes it would "screw up the petition."

But when Jeffery Karnitz handed the defaced petition back to a recall volunteer, she told him, "I hope you know that's a felony," and from then, he told police, "I kind of kicked myself in the ass."

On Thursday, Karnitz, 30, was indeed charged with a felony, "Election fraud - falsifying or destroying nomination papers, recall petitions, etc." -- which is punishable by up to 1 1/2 years in prison, two years extended supervision and $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Karnitz was driving down Highway 33 in West Bend Sunday when he saw a woman at 10th Ave. holding a placard reading "sign recall petitions here" with an arrow pointing down 10th Ave. He told police he stopped, and told the woman his opinions about Walker, then drove down to the signing site, where he scribbled on two petitions, one seeking recall of Walker, and one seeking recall of Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

After scribbling out names, he drove off. Recall volunteers noted his license plate and called police.