HARRISBURG, — Former Pennsylvania House speaker Bill DeWeese returned to state prison Tuesday after nearly four days of court-ordered freedom, but his lawyers immediately asked a state appeals court to release him again.

A Camp Hill State Prison spokeswoman said DeWeese, convicted of corruption charges involving the use of public resources for campaigning, returned to the institution about 1:30 p.m.

DeWeese had served four days of a 2½- to 5-year sentence on Friday when the state Superior Court freed him because the county trial judge had not ruled on his motion to grant bail while he appealed his conviction.

But Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover ruled Tuesday morning that DeWeese should remain jailed while he pursues appeals.

A jury in February found DeWeese, 62, guilty of five felonies for using state employees and resources for campaigning. DeWeese spent decades in the state House representing a southwestern Pennsylvania district, serving as Democratic floor leader and speaker.

He resigned on April 24, the day he was sentenced. He remains on the fall ballot as the Democratic nominee for another term.