DeWeese convicted on 5 felony charges, vows to run again
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Jurors have found Democratic state Rep. Bill DeWeese, the onetime House speaker from Waynesburg, guilty on five of six felony counts in a case in which he was accused of directing his legislative staffers to perform political activities during state work hours.
The Dauphin County jury took three days to reach a verdict in a trial that could be the capstone in a four-year investigation growing out of a memorandum in his name that touched off a scandal that came to be known as Bonusgate.
Mr. DeWeese's girlfriend sobbed as the jury returned to the courtroom to render its verdict, and then cried out as the first guilty verdict was read.
It was expected that Mr. DeWeese would have to step down as a representative and lose his state pension as a result of the conviction, but he said that he plans to appeal the case and will run again. His sentencing day is April 24, the date of the scheduled Pennsylvania primary.
"I believe in the court of public opinion I will be favorably received to some substantial degree," said Mr. DeWeese. "I will certainly continue to run for renomination and re-election."
He said he intended to be sitting in his seat in the General Assembly Tuesday during Gov. Tom Corbett's budget address.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown said in response, "He's a convicted felon and convicted felons, once they are sentenced, can't sit in the General Assembly. If he wants to spit in the face of the jury's verdict, I guess that's his prerogative."
Testimony in the trial lasted seven days, and jurors reached their verdict early Monday after taking the weekend off.
Mr. Brown, the lead prosecutor, described Mr. DeWeese during the trial as "a common thief with uncommon access to other people's money."
Prosecutors relied heavily on testimony by people who worked for Mr. DeWeese at his Capitol office in Harrisburg and his district office that campaign work was an integral part of their jobs.
Those witnesses included Mr. DeWeese's former chief of staff, Mike Manzo, who testified against his ex-boss and is awaiting sentencing under a deal in which he pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Another key witness was Kevin Sidella, a former aide who handled DeWeese's political fundraising and was granted immunity from prosecution.
First Published February 6, 2012 11:18 am
