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HARRISBURG -- Paul Towhey, one of the 10 people charged by Attorney General Tom Corbett yesterday, has not been a high-profile state worker.

Mr. Towhey, 38, of Blue Bell, is a former employee of the state House and is the current chief of staff of former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, the biggest name among those charged yesterday.

He has been charged with nine counts of public corruption, including two counts of criminal conspiracy, theft of services, theft by deception, hindering prosecution and others.

Mr. Towhey was hired as a staff member in Mr. Perzel's district office in Northeast Philadelphia in May 2003 and stayed there until March 2007. He transferred to Mr. Perzel's office at the state Capitol to take over for recently departed Chief of Staff Brian Preski, who had quit his state job to work for a Philadelphia law firm.

Mr. Towhey's salary in 2008 was $70,504, according to a House of Representatives salary list. The grand jury report said he earned $50,399 in 2006, $47,999 in 2005 and $30,758 in each of 2004 and 2003.

The grand jury presentment released yesterday says: "According to one of the district office staffers, Towhey did nothing but political work while he was assigned to the district office. Another Perzel employee estimated that, after Towhey assumed the chief of staff duties, he still spent approximately half of his legislative time doing political work."

The grand jury report said that documents and e-mails that it reviewed "confirm Towhey's campaign work while he was assigned to the district office." The grand jury report said Mr. Towhey did such things as "opposition research," meaning looking up negative things about Mr. Perzel's political opponents.

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