Ex-Pa. lawmaker sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in prison

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former high-ranking Pennsylvania state lawmaker was sentenced today to 18 months to five years in prison after being convicted of charges that involved the illegal use of state employees to perform campaign work.

Stephen Stetler, who spent 16 years in the state House representing a district that includes York City, also was ordered by a Dauphin County judge to pay $35,000 in fines and more than $466,000 in restitution.

Stetler, 63, displayed no reaction after his sentencing for six felony counts that included conspiracy, conflict of interest and four counts of theft.

Stetler chaired the House Democrats’ policy and campaign committees as part of a leadership team that also included Bill DeWeese and Mike Veon, both currently serving state prison sentences for similar crimes. Stetler also served as revenue secretary to Gov. Ed Rendell, who testified as a character witness for him.

His was the last of 25 public corruption cases that grew out of the attorney general’s investigation of the Legislature to be resolved.