A former state lawmaker and an aide avoided jail time by pleading guilty Tuesday to forging signatures, including a dead person’s, on nominating petitions for the 2006 primary.

Linda Bebko-Jones, 62, and her former chief of staff, Mary B. Fiolek, 60, were both sentenced in Dauphin County to 12 months’ probation and fined $1,500.

They each pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges — forging and submitting false signatures and criminal conspiracy. All other charges were dismissed.