Former Lawmaker Strikes Plea Deal
Foti Was Once Second-Most Powerful Lawmaker In Assembly
Posted: 11:06 am CST January 13, 2006Updated: 11:14 am CST January 13, 2006
MADISON, Wis. -- Former state Rep. Steve Foti will change his plea to corruption charges on Friday.The change comes after a plea deal was made with prosecutors.Foti, who once was the second-ranking lawmaker in the state Assembly, has reached an agreement to plead guilty to a misdemeanor ethics charge and settle the case against him.Foti is one of five lawmakers who faced charges after a corruption investigation began at the state Capitol several years ago.The former Republican lawmaker from Oconomowoc was charged in 2002 with a felony count of misconduct in office for allegedly hiring a state worker with taxpayer funds solely to raise campaign money for Assembly Republicans. He originally pleaded not guilty.Foti is will likely change his plea at a hearing on Friday in Dane County Circuit Court.An unnamed source told the Associated Press that the deal includes a recommended jail sentence of 30 days, a fine and an agreement to testify against Republican Rep. Scott Jensen, of Waukesha.Jensen is due for trial next month, as is former Foti aide Sherry Schultz.Three other former lawmakers -- two Democrats and one Republican -- reached plea deals earlier. Former state Sens. Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala were sentenced to jail time, and former Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Ladwig is expected to pay $4,500 in fines and restitution, WISC-TV reported.
Previous Stories:
- January 11, 2006: Blanchard Files Request In Burke Case
- January 9, 2006: DA Considering Motion Regarding Burke Case
- January 9, 2006: DA: Judge Wanted Burke In Jail
- January 6, 2006: Burke Checks In At Jail
- December 29, 2005: Former State Lawmaker Pleads Guilty
- December 16, 2005: Chvala Sentenced To Jail, Probation
- December 15, 2005: Chvala Sentenced To 9 Months In Jail
- December 15, 2005: Chvala To Be Sentenced Thursday Morning
- December 8, 2005: Chvala Asks For No Jail Time
- December 6, 2005: Prosecutors Ask For Jail Time For Chvala
- December 1, 2005: Burke Receives Jail Time, Ordered To Pay Restitution
- October 26, 2005: Chvala Pleads Guilty To Two Felony Counts
- October 25, 2005: Former Senator Pleads Guilty
- October 24, 2005: Former State Senator To Enter Plea
- October 6, 2005: Burke Makes Plea Deal
Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
