Friday, November 28, 2014
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former Pennsylvania House Democratic leader who served a sentence for corruption is seeking a new trial now that he’s out of prison.
Former state Rep. Bill DeWeese made the filing this week in Dauphin County Court claiming he should have been allowed to present more defense witnesses during his trial.
Pennlive.com also reports that the filing contends that DeWeese’s trial attorney didn’t represent him effectively.
The 64-year-old Greene County Democrat was convicted in 2012 and released from state prison on March 30.
A Dauphin County jury convicted DeWeese of conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft for using his position to persuade or force employees to illegally perform campaign work and misusing public resources for political purposes.
He’s on parole until his sentence ends in 2017.