The conviction Monday of state Rep. Bill DeWeese on five of six corruption charges is not the end of the story for the long-serving lawmaker. Soon after hearing the guilty verdict in a Dauphin County courtroom, DeWeese vowed to appeal and run for re-election.

It’s commonly understood that a felon cannot serve in the state Legislature, but conviction is not final until sentencing. DeWeese was re-elected while under indictment in 2010, so he could well retain his seat, even while appealing his conviction.

Given his plan to appeal and run again, DeWeese’s final political fate is uncertain. His conviction for felony theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy is, however, a reminder of the culture of arrogance and self-serving politicians that has flourished in Harrisburg for years.

DeWeese was charged with using taxpayer resources, including money and staffers, for re-election purposes. He is not alone in facing charges over using taxpayer resources to get re-elected.

Former state Sen. Vincent Fumo, now in federal prison after being convicted of more than 100 charges of corruption, misuse of funds and obstruction of justice, is an extreme case of this practice. The former Philadelphia power broker famously said he preferred to spend “OPM,” or other people’s money, whenever possible. Fumo was convicted of the misuse of more than $2 million in state taxpayers’ funds for personal and political gain.

DeWeese and others charged in a broad investigation known as Bonusgate are alleged to have misused usually lesser amounts of money mostly for their own political, rather than personal or financial, gain.

The four-year Bonusgate investigation led by then-Attorney General Tom Corbett, charged 25 people. To date, 20 people, 11 Democrats and nine Republicans, have pleaded guilty or been found guilty by a jury. Two were acquitted.

Most charges were against legislative staffers. Former House Speaker John Perzel, and DeWeese, are the only two sitting lawmakers charged in the Bonusgate probe.

Perzel and other Republicans were charged with spending taxpayers’ money on computer equipment and software used to examine data on voters to help get Republicans elected. Most charges against Democrats are tied to year-end bonuses that were paid to legislative staffers who did campaign work for their bosses.

Paying state employees for political work is illegal.

The Bonusgate scandal also led to news reports revealing that lawmakers in Harrisburg have more staff on payroll than lawmakers in any other state. Those costs contribute to Pennsylvania having the largest and most expensive full-time legislature in the nation.

The DeWeese case also is a reminder of former state Rep. Mike Veon, who was the first high-profile lawmaker snared in the Bonusgate scandal. Veon, who was rejected by voters in his bid for re-election, was later convicted on corruption charges along with a key aide.

While popular with many in his district, DeWeese could suffer Veon’s fate while running to retain his seat.

The DeWeese conviction also is a reminder of the Harrisburg culture that led to the infamous 2 a.m. pay raise vote in 2005, which was later reversed in the wake of public outrage.

Despite the public outcry over the pay-raise vote, state lawmakers kept their greedy actions below the radar a few years earlier when they gave themselves a 50 percent pension increase, which was quickly followed by a 25 percent pension increase for other state employees and public school teachers.

Regardless of the ultimate outcome of the case against DeWeese, his conviction for using taxpayer resources to win re-election serves as a reminder of the Harrisburg culture of arrogance and self-serving behavior that puts re-election, and all the associated perks, above public service.

Being reminded of the culture of entitlement that existed in Harrisburg for years, voters should let the DeWeese case, regardless of its outcome, serve as motivation to ensure that the Legislature is purged of self-serving public servants.