Can continue to serve in House until sentencing in April
By: Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — Former state House Speaker Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, was found guilty on five corruption charges by a Dauphin County jury Monday morning.
The verdict ends, for now, a five-year investigation by the state's Attorney General’s Office into the use of taxpayer funds and resources for political purposes.
DeWeese was charged with six counts of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest for allowing and directing the use of legislative staff for campaign work. The jury found him not guilty on one charge of theft, and guilty on three theft charges, one conflict-of-interest charge and one criminal conspiracy charge.
“Certainly, we’re pleased with the jury’s verdict, and we agree with it,” said Ken Brown, senior deputy attorney general.
Convicted felons are prohibited from serving in the state General Assembly, but the conviction is not official until sentencing, which is scheduled for April.
Sentencing guidelines call for between nine to 16 months for each sentence, but the time could be served concurrently and would be determined by the judge at sentencing, Brown said.
DeWeese said he plans to continue holding office, and campaigning, in the meantime.
“I am still a member of the state Legislature, and my petitions are out in my precincts,” DeWeese said. “I will certainly continue to run for re-nomination and for re-election.”
Asked if he would be taking his seat for Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address Tuesday, DeWeese said “absolutely,” and added that he had requested to be named to the committee, which will escort the governor ceremoniously into the state House chamber for the speech.
DeWeese has, on numerous occasions, said his prosecution was politically motivated by Corbett, who launched the investigation in 2006 when he was attorney general. Corbett was elected governor in 2010.
DeWeese has served in the General Assembly since 1976, and served as speaker of the House from 1993 to 1994. Once his sentence is official, he will lose his state pension.
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