Former Democrat lawmaker DeWeese out of prison

03/31/2014

PHILADELPHIA — Former state Rep. Bill DeWeese was released from prison on Sunday after finishing his sentence for political corruption.

The Greene County Democrat was released from the state prison in Retreat in northeastern Pennsylvania at 7:20 a.m., said state prisons spokeswoman Christine McMillan. DeWeese was picked up by a family member, she said.

The 63-year-old former House speaker and minority leader was serving a 2½- to five-year sentence for using public employees and taxpayer resources for political purposes. He was eligible for parole because as a first-time, nonviolent offender, he must serve only 75 percent of his minimum sentence.

DeWeese will be subject to special monitoring and restrictions until the end of his maximum sentence in 2017, according to the state parole board.

DeWeese, an ex-Marine who had a penchant for bow ties and a grandiloquent speaking style, served 35 years in the House, including many years in Democratic leadership and one term as speaker.

He was among 22 House lawmakers and staff members — 13 Democrats and nine Republicans — who were convicted or pleaded guilty to corruption charges as a result of an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office that began in 2007.

A Dauphin County jury convicted DeWeese of conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft in February 2012 for using his position to persuade or force employees to illegally perform campaign work and misusing public resources for political purposes.

Judge Todd Hoover called DeWeese “the instigator” of illegal campaign activities in the House Democratic caucus.

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