Bill DeWeese

HARRISBURG — A judge Friday refused former state House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese’s request to postpone his prison sentence on corruption charges, meaning this may be his last weekend of freedom for a long time.

Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover rejected DeWeese’s motion to delay the start of his 2Z\x-to-five-year prison term until Hoover decides if he can remain free on bail while appealing his conviction. That process is expected to take months.

Hoover ordered the former Greene County lawmaker to report as scheduled Monday afternoon to Dauphin County Prison in Harrisburg to be transferred to the state prison system. DeWeese, 62, served in the House for 35 years, including a two years as speaker. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in his southwestern Pennsylvania district and remains on the Nov. 6 general-election ballot. A jury convicted him of conspiracy, conflict of interest and three counts of theft for using public resources for political purposes.

DeWeese’s lawyer, William Costopoulos, said he spoke with his client Friday. He is “not happy about the events in his life,” but is pressing ahead in an effort to prove his innocence, Costopoulos said.

Despite his high-profile legal woes, DeWeese won more votes in the April 24 Democratic primary in the 50th House District than the combined totals of the two Republicans vying for the GOP nod. Costopoulos noted the election results when asked whether his DeWeese’s re-election campaign was active.

“To me, that’s active,” he said.

Primary day was also the day DeWeese resigned from the House and was sentenced for his crimes. He remained in the House for more than two months after his February conviction because the constitutional ban on felons serving in the Legislature is not activated until they are sentenced.