Crutchfield sentencing delayed {TN Waltz}

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 11/6/7 | Lawrence Buser

[SmithL]

A sentencing hearing for longtime Democratic lawmaker Ward Crutchfield of Chattanooga has been reset to Jan. 17 while his attorneys gather more medical information that could affect his bribery sentence.

Crutchfield, 78, who was to be sentenced here later this month, was among a dozen elected state or local officials or their aides indicted in the FBI’s Tennessee Waltz undercover investigation into public corruption.

He was charged with taking a share of $12,000 in bribes in return for his legislative influence. Crutchfield pleaded guilty in July to one count involving a $3,000 cash payment from an undercover FBI agent in 2005.

Crutchfield, who resigned his Senate seat in August, faces up to five years in prison, though his attorneys are asking for probation from U.S. Dist. Court Judge J. Daniel Breen.

[SmithL]

THE Republican caught in the Tennessee Waltz admitted his wrongdoing, pleaded guilty without a deal, served his term, and has been released. The Rats are still scrambling.