Former state senator Kathryn Bowers leaves federal court after her sentencing Thursday for accepting bribes in exchange for her legislative influence.
Posted on 02/15/2008 7:56:39 AM PST by SmithL
Former state senator Kathryn Bowers was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison on Thursday for accepting $11,500 in bribes.
Bowers will also be subject to two years of supervised release, although no fine was assessed. She will report to prison at an undetermined date.
Bowers, 64, read a brief statement before U.S. Dist. Judge J. Daniel Breen in which she called her crime a "very, very, very bad decision."
"I ask for forgiveness of my bad decisions of receiving money in an inappropriate manner," her statement read. "I am indeed sorry. If I had it to do over again, I would not have accepted any money."
Although Bowers initially denied her guilt when caught in the Tennessee Waltz sting, she changed her mind last July, pleading guilty to accepting four bribes between March 2004 and January 2005.
Bowers was one of a dozen elected officials caught in the sting operation, a massive investigation that culminated in indictments in 2005.
Each of those 12 has either pleaded guilty or been convicted of the charges against them. Only the April 9 sentencing of Michael Hooks Jr. remains from those cases.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Bowers, who served nearly 12 years in the state legislature, could have faced between 30 and 37 months in prison.
Asst. U.S. Atty. Tim DiScenza called the sentence appropriate, but declined to comment further. U.S. Atty. David Kustoff declined to comment.
Bowers' attorney, William Massey, had hoped that his client's age and apparent infirmity would convince Breen to grant her probation with no jail time. Three character witnesses spoke on Bowers' behalf Thursday, although her health problems were never specified.
"We're always disappointed when a lady like Ms. Bowers is sentenced to incarceration," Massey said. "We're glad that her past contributions to the community were worthy of a sentence lower than the guidelines (suggested)."
Breen sentenced former state senator Ward Crutchfield, who pleaded guilty to accepting $1,000, to probation and home confinement.
Crutchfield, 79, said he suffered from diabetes, bursitis and an enlarged prostate while recently having a heart monitor implanted.
Massey said he thought Bowers received jail time while Crutchfield did not because she is younger and in better health. He also speculated that Bowers' admission to taking multiple bribes played a role.
"There was one incident with Mr. Crutchfield and there was more than one incident with Ms. Bowers," he said.
- Jody Callahan: 529-6531
Judge your honor, I come before the court today humble and ashamed and I want to apologize to God, my family and friends, the people of Tennessee, and to you. I ask for forgiveness of my bad decisions of receiving money in an inappropriate manner. I am indeed sorry. If I had it to do over again, I would not have accepted any money. This was a very bad decision on my part and I urge others who are in elected and appointed positions to know the law and serve the people with honor and integrity. I would hope and pray that my bad decisions and the bad decisions of others do not discourage the people from participating in the electoral process.
I accept my punishment and ask forgiveness from the court, my family and the people of Tennessee.
Other Tennessee Waltz verdicts
Political activist Barry Myers, pleaded guilty to bribery. Sentence: 18 months.
Charles Love, lobbyist and ex-member of Hamilton County School Board, pleaded guilty to handling bribes for lawmakers. Sentence: 1 year, 1 day.
Chris Newton, former state representative from Cleveland, pleaded guilty to bribery. Sentence: 1 year, 1 day.
William Cotton, former Hamilton County commissioner from Chattanooga, convicted of extortion and bribery. Sentence: 3 years.
Roscoe Dixon, former state senator, convicted of extortion and bribery. Sentence: 5 years, 3 months.
Michael Hooks Sr., former Shelby County commissioner, pleaded guilty to bribery. Sentence: 2 years, 2 months.
Calvin Williams, former top administrator for Shelby County Commission, convicted of extortion and bribery. Sentence: 2 years, 9 months.
John Ford, former state senator, convicted of bribery. Sentence: 5 years, 6 months.
Ward Crutchfield, former state senator from Chattanooga, pleaded guilty to bribery. Sentence: Probation and home confinement.
Michael Hooks Jr., former Memphis School Board member, pleaded guilty to taking $1,500 in bogus invoice scam at Juvenile Court Clerk Office. Awaits sentence April 9.
And what party is she a member of? I missed that...
Since I cant seem to find party affiliation, she must be a lib
Newton is the Republican in that list. While the others all tried to game the system, he admitted wrongdoing, pleaded guilty (without a plea agreement) and finished his sentence.
She’s a democrat.
TRANSLATION: If I knew I was going to get caught, I would never have done this.
I miss Tennessee, but things like this make me happy I am now living in Green Bay. There may be corrupt politicians here too, but the cold keeps the smell down!
When I saw that no party affiliation was mentioned, one had to deduce she was a democrat. Its more liberal journalism lying by omission.
She should have been fined at least the 11,500.00 that she took under the table.
This Memphis politics for ya. And. then there were the screams about race being a factor in her conviction, even though she admitted to the crime.
GUILTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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