Ex-Pittsburgh police chief seeks probation

February 19, 2014 at 8:39a.m.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Defense attorneys are seeking probation for a former police chief who pleaded guilty to federal charges that he conspired to steal police funds deposited into unauthorized credit union accounts.

Former Pittsburgh police chief Nathan Harper pleaded guilty last fall to conspiracy to commit theft from a federally funded program and four counts of failure to file tax returns.

Harper’s attorneys said in court filings Tuesday that their client didn’t come up with the idea of diverting city money into the accounts and shouldn’t be sentenced as the mastermind of the scheme. Prosecutors, however, say Harper was the leader of the conspiracy and deserves 18 months to two years in jail.

Harper joined the department in 1977 and became chief in 2006 but resigned a year ago.