Late this afternoon, legislative candidate M.C. “Chick” Heileson filed an amended campaign finance report, removing four previously reported $1,000 contributions to his campaign from companies owned by eastern Idaho businessman Doyle Beck – suggesting he’d given that money back – but keeping two others in. That would still be double the allowable limit, which is $1,000 from an individual or corporation - or in the aggregate from related corporations - for the primary or general election.

Tim Hurst, chief deputy Idaho secretary of state, said, “I’ll be contacting him on Monday to find out what’s going on.”

If illegal contributions are promptly returned, the violator could avoid prosecution. “If they do it they’re free,” Hurst said. “If they don’t do it, then they’re fined or prosecuted.”

But if the money already had been spent on campaigning? “They’d have to return it out of their own pocket,” Hurst said. “They’re going to have to show it on the report as a negative contribution. If they’ve already spent the money, they’re going to have to come up with that difference.”