CLEVELAND -- The jury reached a verdict Wednesday in the trial of three Cuyahoga County Board of Elections workers accused of mishandling the 2004 presidential election recount.

The verdict was split, with two of the workers being found guilty on some of the charges, and the third found not guilty.

The three were charged with six counts each of misconduct. The charges alleged that Ohio laws were not followed in the selection and review of ballots for the recount. The most serious charges carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

Rosie Grier, the assistant manager of the board's ballot department, was acquitted on all the charges against her.

The two other workers were convicted of a felony count of negligent misconduct. Jacqueline Maiden is the elections coordinator who was the board's third-highest ranking employee when she was indicted last March. The other is ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer.

Both also were each convicted of a misdemeanor count of failure of an elections employee to perform her duty and each acquitted of five counts.

Both were acquitted of five other charges.

Grier, though happy with her acquittal, said she refuses to let her vindication overshadow her coworkers.

"I think they're just as innocent as I am. Because we did nothing wrong, none of us did anything wrong. None of us should have been here," she said.

All three employees have been on paid leave from the board, which has defended the workers, saying the employees did not knowingly commit fraud or break any laws.

Maiden and Dreamer have both lost their jobs at the BOE as a result of their convictions. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26.