Ex-Rep. Stetler found guilty in corruption case
HARRISBURG — A former state representative and onetime Pennsylvania revenue secretary was convicted this morning of corruption in what could be the final trial of a five-year-old state investigation.
A Dauphin County jury found former Rep. Stephen Stetler, D-York, guilty on six felony counts stemming from his alleged participation in a scheme to use public employees to do illegal campaign work.
His case was the last of 25 defendants in the state attorney general’s legislative corruption probe to be resolved.
The jurors convicted him on all the charges he faced: four counts of theft and one each of conspiracy and conflict of interest. Stetler and his lawyer, Joshua Lock, declined to comment as they left the courtroom. Sentencing will likely occur in about three months.
A prosecutor said the convictions validate the findings of a grand jury and state agents that prompted the charges.
“Once again, this shows that there was pattern of corruption in the Pennsylvania state Legislature,” said Senior Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown.
Stetler, 62, remains free on bail pending sentencing.
Brown said state sentencing guidelines call for at least nine months’ incarceration for a theft conviction.
Stetler is all but certain to lose his state pension.
