HARRISBURG -- Before former state Rep. Brett O. Feese headed to Harrisburg, he prosecuted crimes as a Lycoming County district attorney. Now he's on the other side of a criminal case, accused of falsifying evidence, concealing information sought by investigators and directing state-paid staff to do political work.

Prosecutors charged him yesterday with 62 counts, including theft, conflict of interest and hindering prosecution.

Mr. Feese, 55, of Lycoming County, was a state representative for nearly 12 years. He retired from office in 2006 but did not leave the Capitol. He stayed on as chief counsel to the Republican caucus -- the highest paying position in the Legislature with a salary of $197,000. He left his job last week.

His abrupt departure came as word surfaced that prosecutors were investigating his involvement in the movement of several boxes of campaign-related materials from the Capitol to offices of the House Republican Campaign Committee.

Prosecutors say they also have evidence that he directed employees to prepare mailings for fund-raisers and allowed staffers to use his state car for campaign work.

Of all the crimes Mr. Feese and nine co-defendants are accused of, Attorney General Tom Corbett said obstruction is the worst.

"You're interfering with justice," he said during a press conference yesterday. "You're interfering with people finding out what truly happened, and there's a lawyer involved in that."

Mr. Feese's alleged transgressions include the fabrication of notes that he told prosecutors he jotted down during a 2007 internal investigation into the use of public resources for campaigns.

"The notes take great pains to state that Feese had no idea these illegal activities had been occurring and stand in stark contrast with evidence and testimony before the grand jury," according to a presentment issued yesterday. The statewide grand jury found that Mr. Feese and his secretary, Jill Seaman, had fabricated the notes to hinder the attorney general's investigation.

Mr. Corbett said Mr. Feese had been one of the most powerful members of the Republican caucus before he stepped down in 2006. Because he had a reputation for being a sharp and persistent lawmaker, colleagues elected him to caucus leadership posts of whip and chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls budget decisions.

Mr. Feese also had been chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee for several years, beginning in 1997. The committee aims to keep incumbents in office and to help new GOP candidates take seats from Democrats.

While serving as caucus chief counsel, Mr. Feese simultaneously worked for the law and real-estate partnerships of McNerney, Page, Vanderlin and Hall in Williamsport. Additionally, he served as solicitor for 27 small boroughs, townships and recreation authorities in and around Lycoming County.

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