Posted on 03/09/2012 9:40:23 PM PST by Santa Fe_Conservative
The state’s biggest ethics offender – racking up 106 violations in one political campaign – will not serve time behind bars.
Lt. Gov Ken Ard will remain free under a sentence of five years probation, a $5,000 fine and 300 hours of community service. Circuit Judge G. Thomas Cooper Jr. decided Ard’s punishment Friday after listening for 50 minutes to character witnesses and pleas for mercy, including from Ard himself.
“I stand here humble, apologetic,” Ard said after pleading guilty to seven charges just a few hours after he resigned the job that had him first in the line of succession to become governor. “Your honor, I can’t undo anything. All I can do is say I’m sorry. Ken Ard in court
Former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard, flanked by attorneys, pleads guilty Friday in a Richland County courtroom after resigning his State House post Ard was sentenced to 5 years probation, a $5,000 fine and 300 hours of community service.
All the violations are misdemeanors under the state ethics law. Each is punishable by a maximum of 1 year in prison and a $5,000 fine.
“I wish it would go away. But I made this mess. I hope you will accept my apology, because this is from the bottom of my heart.”
After an eight-month investigation, the state grand jury ended the public speculation Friday. Ard was indicted, resigned and was sentenced – all in one day.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestate.com ...
Must be a democrat - no mention of party.
It’s a shock because it wasn’t mentioned in the headline, but the article states he is a Republican
Not anywhere in the article do they say he is a DEMOCRAT. If he was a Republican it would be everywhere.
SC ping.
He is definitely a DEMOCRAT, I looked it up.
South Carolina has some lousy statewide officials.
He was a Republican. It’s way down in the story, at least twice.
glad to be rid of him.
Check again, he’s a Republican.
Mark Stanford was quite good until screwed the...pooch.
He funneled personal funds to his campaign through a number of friends and strangers, reportedly in order to appear as though he had more grassroots support than he really did.
First thing that jumped out at me.
I'll keep reading to see if everyone forgot what the 106 charges were.
Curious. From a possible 106 years of prison time to probation...
Hmmmmmm
Mr. Ard, like most politicians in SC, is a Republican. Unfortunately that doesn't mean there's no corruption.
IMHO, Mr. Ard should have spent some time in jail. Even a month.
We've got to stop coddling these politicos that take advantage of their office for criminal advantage.
South Carolina
Ping
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De nada.
“He funneled personal funds to his campaign through a number of friends and strangers, reportedly in order to appear as though he had more grassroots support than he really did.”.............
Guess he’s no different than most of the politicians that supposedly “represent” the majority of US, We the people.
We need to do what an old Navy term states, “Now hear this, a Clean Sweep for and aft”.
Better throw in some term limits to boot.
“We need to do what an old Navy term states, “Now hear this, a Clean Sweep for(e) and aft”.”
Back in the days before environmentalism took over, the remainder of that 1-MC announcement was, “Dump all trash and garbage over the fantail!”
It still applies to politicians!
And he and his attys maintain he didn’t realize that was wrong. Hey, it’s not murder, but how s.t.u.p.i.d. do you have to be to not realize that was wrong.
Otherwise, just give the money to your campaign, that wouldn’t be illegal.
This guy must be a complete dope.
“Mark Stanford was quite good until screwed the...pooch.”
And many people still seem to think that what Sanford (I think it’s Sanford, not Stanford) did was not that bad.
I think it was a complete disgrace, aside from being immoral it was dereliction of duty. To run off in secret, for days and days, leaving your state and in fact the country in secret, to me this is one of the worst, most immature self-indulgent things any elected official could have done. He should have resigned.
You’re right, it’s Sanford; wasn’t defending him.
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