Posted on 02/09/2007 5:35:01 PM PST by neverdem
Alan Hevesi walked into Albany County Court Friday morning for his sentencing, his 35-year career as a public servant defined by one case of indiscretion.
"I'm culpable, I'm responsible, and I apologize," Hevesi said.
"You began to evidence a very high level of arrogance and some expectation of entitlement for services that you otherwise were not entitled to receive," said Albany County Judge Stephen Herrick.
As part of Hevesi's sentence, he was forced to resign his position and pay back more than $200,000 in restitution, both of which he complied with when pleading guilty in December.
The saga of former state comptroller Alan Hevesi is over. In Albany County Court Friday morning, Hevesi received his punishment for a felony charge of defrauding state government. The charges stem from Hevesi using employees from his office to drive his wife around.
He was also ordered to pay the maximum $5,000 fine and a $50 charge to have his DNA put into a convicted felons database.
Hevesi will serve no probation and will still be allowed to vote -- something he negotiated during the plea deal.
"For his career to end this way is a shame. And I think he recognizes that," said Albany County District Attorney David Soares.
Now that Alan Hevesi has been sentenced, it seems that the "chauffeurgate" scandal has reached its final stop.
"Still, those involved in bringing the former state comptroller to justice said they think this case could have far reaching implications.
Elected officials should take special precaution to go about doing their job in a way that does not violate the public trust. Certainly we've received more complaints by way of public integrity," Soares said.
"You are now the symbol, the icon, used by both local and state reformers to show a substantial shift in public policy toward an improved level of public integrity," Herrick said.
While the judge hopes Hevesi's fate makes other public leaders think twice before committing similar crimes, the former fiscal watchdog said he's hoping to forget these negative feelings.
"Sadness, pain, and relief that at least on a legal level, there's closure," Hevesi said.
Closure for Hevesi and the end of a dark chapter in New York State politics.
Nonsense, he pulled the same stunt in NYC. While it's a slap on the wrist, it's a gift that keeps on giving in Albany.
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And this is Hevesi, the same worthless bastard who called for the assassination of the President, and later claimed that he was just joking?
I say, SCREW HIM AND SCREW HIM HARD!!
):^(
Not mentioned: he gets to keep all his pensions and they are substantial.
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FReepmail me if you want on or off my New York ping list.
And as NYC Comptroller, Hevesi's taxpayer funded website included a most inappropriate Directory of Services for the LGBT community with some really awful listings, some with links to pornographic websites and websites promoting gay S/M. Some watchdog of the public treasury!
Karma is a cruel master.
And to think I worry about paying my taxes.
Thanks for the ping!
Hevesi will serve no probation and will still be allowed to vote -- something he negotiated during the plea deal.
If you or I or any Joe-6pack New Yorker did this, our butts would be in Attica.
My guess is he didn't personally pay one penny of the restitution, will not personally pay one penny of his fine, will successfully sue to keep his DNA out of the state database, and will one day be overwhelmingly returned to some state office by the voters of New York after branding his conviction the result of a "Republican witch hunt."
Keeps his pension? If so, one lucky batard.
yup a real lesson. Commit a crime as a politician, a custodian of the people's money, in the public eye, you get a wrist slap. Any ordinary person would be doing time.
If they catch the bank robber and they recover the money, he gets a $5000 fine?? Right???
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