The decision was applauded by the state and county branches of the Democratic Party, but the leader of the political group accused of wrongdoing said the allegations are baseless.

``I feel that they are retaliating because they have no other way to explain that people went against their party,'' said Mark Jacoby, the owner and operator of Young Political Majors, the group the Democrats claim changed voters' party affiliation to Republican without their knowledge.

``I've never been charged with anything,'' he said. ``I've worked coast to coast.''

The Democrats had been gaining ground in registering new voters in San Bernardino County. But in recent weeks, there has been a dramatic spurt in Republican voter registration numbers.

Brian Brokaw, spokesman for the California Democratic Party, said any allegation of voter fraud needs to be investigated.

``It is encouraging the district attorney recognizes the seriousness of the situation,'' Brokaw said. ``Hopefully, any criminal activity that may have occurred will be dealt with appropriately.''

Upon learning of the investigation, Carol Robb, chairwoman of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party said, ``It's wonderful, and of course they would be investigating it. I would expect the Public Integrity Unit to do the right

Local Democrats claim Young Political Majors used a petition drive for stricter penalties against child molesters as a ploy to register county residents.

The group collected signatures at Wal-Marts in Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Rialto and San Bernardino, Robb said. Students at Chaffey and San Bernardino Valley colleges also unknowingly registered Republicans, she said.

Jacoby said standards are in place to prevent voter fraud. Signature gatherers wear T-shirts with red elephants and, once a voter has registered, they hand out a receipt along with a brochure explaining the differences between Republicans and Democrats, he said.

Later, a staff of 20 goes through the voter registration cards to verify addresses and phone numbers, Jacoby said.

Hector Barajas, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said investigators from the Secretary of State's Office have scrutinized the party's process for collecting signatures and found no wrongdoing.

The county Democratic Party submitted the complaint last week to the Registrar of Voters Office, which forwarded it to the District Attorney's Office.

lauren.mcsherry@inlandnewspapers.com

(909) 386-3875