Ohio lawmaker indicted on bribery charges

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio state lawmaker was expected to resign and surrender to authorities Tuesday after being indicted on charges of bribery, election falsification and filing a false ethics statement.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said the three felony bribery charges handed down against state Rep. W. Carlton Weddington, of Columbus, are the first of their kind against a state lawmaker since 1912.

O’Brien and Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Edward Hanko said the second-term Democrat took bribes of checks, cash and all-expense paid trips to South Beach, Miami, and Napa Valley, Calif., in 2011. O’Brien said the trips were three or four days each.

Weddington faces up to four-and-a-half years in prison if convicted on all counts. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday, O’Brien said.