Jason Bauer, the former Oakland County Democratic Party operative who was busted for his role in last summer's failed attempt to qualify a slate of tea party candidates for the Michigan ballot, pleaded no contest this morning to five felonies related to the scheme.

Bauer, 31, of Waterford entered the plea of nolo contendere (which is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction under Michigan law) to all of the charges for his role in what became known as "the fake tea party," an elaborate effort to siphon votes away from Republicans in the 2010 election by running a slate of candidates under the tea party banner.