Oregon Public Broadcasting

Initiative activist and Oregon gubernatorial candidate Bill Sizemore is facing more legal troubles. 

The Oregon Attorney General's office Monday charged Sizemore and his wife with tax evasion. Chris Lehman reports.

The indictment alleges Bill and Cindy Sizemore have failed to file state tax returns for the past three years. 

Sean Riddell with the Oregon Attorney General's office says charges were brought after the Sizemores failed to take advantage of the state's recent tax amnesty program.

Each of the three felony charges could result in up to a five-year prison sentence.

Sizemore called the charges politically motivated and claims he and his wife have made estimated tax payments for two of the years in question. 

Bill Sizemore:  "If you pay an estimated tax, you're obviously not trying to evade the tax.  But we were afraid to actually file them."

Sizemore says that's because under a previous court order he"s required to submit copies of his tax returns to the teachers" unions that sued him. 

He says he plans to plead not guilty to the tax evasion charges.  An arraignment is scheduled for next Monday.