HARRISBURG -- With the judge describing her as "perhaps the least involved and least culpable" of the Bonusgate defendants who have appeared before him, Rachel Manzo was sentenced to probation and a $1,000 fine for her role in a scheme to use state resources to run political campaigns.

A teary-eyed Mrs. Manzo, who last year pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft, said the three years since she was arrested in connection with the government corruption probe have been "very difficult."

"I very much regret my involvement and apologize," Mrs. Manzo, 30, told Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Lewis.

In addition to her fine and 18 months of probation, the Cumberland County resident will pay $5,000 in restitution for the $18,000 in illegal bonuses that she received. Judge Lewis said that sentence reflects her minimal involvement in the bonus scheme.

Mrs. Manzo was hired by the House Democrats as a research analyst, later serving as an aide to the Tourism Committee and as executive director of the caucus policy committee.

The case against her and 11 others centered on a plan to distribute more than $1.8 million in tax dollars to House Democratic staffers as rewards for campaign work.

Frank Fina, a prosecutor with the state Attorney General's Office, said Mrs. Manzo participated in that plan. But he added that since being charged, she has provided investigators with valuable information, including on a case that is still before the grand jury.

She initially was charged with 12 counts, including several felonies, but those offenses were reduced as part of her deal with prosecutors.

As she left the courtroom, Mrs. Manzo declined to comment. "We're happy that it's over," said Korey Leslie, her attorney.

One Bonusgate defendant -- Mrs. Manzo's husband, Mike, the former chief of staff to former House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese -- has yet to be sentenced.

In all, three Bonusgate defendants were found guilty, two were acquitted and seven pleaded guilty.