HARRISBURG — Bill DeWeese ended his 35-year tenure in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, just hours before a judge sentenced him to prison for corruption, even as he anticipated winning the Democratic nomination for another term in the Pennsylvania primary election.

A Dauphin County judge sentenced the former longtime House Democratic leader to 2Z\x to 5 years in prison, fined him $25,000 and ordered him to pay nearly $117,000 in restitution after a 90-minute hearing at which lawyers sparred over DeWeese’s culpability and public statements about his conviction.

Judge Todd Hoover told DeWeese he was convinced DeWeese used his position to persuade or force legislative employees to perform illegal campaign work.

“There’s no question you were the leader and the instigator,” the judge told DeWeese before imposing the sentence.