After deliberating for an hour and a half, a Scott County jury has convicted former Gate City mayor Charles Dougherty on 16 counts of violating state election laws during his disputed 2004 re-election bid.

Prosecutors said Dougherty sought out elderly and unsophisticated voters in their homes and persuaded them to give false reasons for voting by absentee ballot. In some cases, voters have said, Dougherty actually filled out their mail-in ballots -- voting for himself in the process.

For each of eight voters, Dougherty was convicted on two charges: making a false statement on an absentee ballot application and aiding or abetting in the violation of absentee voting procedures.

The jury will now consider a sentence for Dougherty.