Ohio lawmaker pleads guilty to ethics violations

COLUMBUS (AP) — A state lawmaker from Cincinnati has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor ethics law violations related to taking Bengals tickets from lobbyists then failing to properly report them on required disclosure forms.

Democratic state Rep. Dale Mallory entered the pleas today in Franklin County Municipal Court. The 49-year-old Mallory is a four-term lawmaker term-limited at the end of this year.

The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee referred him for prosecution after finding he improperly accepted tickets from payday lending industry lobbyists in 2009 and 2013 that exceeded the $75 gift limit. Charges were previously brought against the lobbyists.

Mallory is the latest lawmaker caught up in an ongoing investigation into efforts by the payday lending industry to influence legislation. Two others are in prison.