NATCHEZ — Rep. Robert Johnson III (D-Natchez) is among 10 state legislators who failed to file campaign finance reports by the Jan. 29 deadline, and might be required to pay a late filing penalty of $50 per day.

“I’m still making sure I got all the documents, and making sure bank records are consistent with donations,” Johnson said. “I’d rather do that than file (a report) that’s incorrect.”

Johnson said he expects to file his report no later than today, exactly one week after the set deadline.

According to Mississippi Code, beginning with the 10th calendar day after which a report is due, the Secretary of State’s office shall assess a civil penalty of $50 each day until a report is filed, up to a maximum of 10 days.

If a candidate or political committee has not filed within 20 calendar days after a report is due, the Attorney General can prosecute delinquencies.

Any person who shall “willfully and deliberately and substantially” violate the filing provisions shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined up to $3,000 or imprisoned for six months or both, the code states.

Other legislators who have missed the deadline include Troy Brown Sr., John Cosmann III, Tim Lee, Russ Nowell, John Orman, Eric Rawlings, David Rogers, Bobby Shows and Bobby Ray Smith, according to a press released issued by the Secretary of State’s office.