MADISON, Wis. -- A jury convicted state Rep. Scott Jensen on Saturday of creating a campaign machine with state employees working on the taxpayers' dime.

VIDEO: Watch The Report | VIDEO: Judge Reads Verdict | VIDEO: Jensen Responds To Verdict

It rejected the Waukesha Republican's claims that he thought the workers were off the state clock, and that Assembly Republicans had used state workers to campaign for years.

Jensen was found guilty on three felony counts of misconduct in office and guilty on one misdemeanor count of intentional misuse of public position for private benefit. He now faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison -- 15 years on the three felony counts, and one year on the misdemeanor count, respectively.

The jury also convicted Jensen's former GOP aide Sherry Schultz on a felony misconduct in office charge. Schultz faces up to five years in prison for doing campaign work on state time.

Jensen's attorney Stephen Meyer said that they haven't discussed an appeal and that Jensen is now only concentrating on his family life, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen spoke after the verdict was announced.

"I just want to thank all of our family my friends and my constituents for their incredible support that they've given me over the years," Jensen said. "My family and I will be deeply grateful for that forever. They have been amazing with their prayers and their support over the last few years. The only plans I have at the moment are to go home and hug my wife and kids"

Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said that he thought the jury's verdict was the right one.

"The verdict is one that I think is fair and I think it shows that no one is above the law," Blanchard said.

Blanchard said that this verdict will end his investigation of the state Capitol caucuses. He said that despite the immunity granted to dozens of staffers who did the illegal fundraising, there's now an awareness of what is acceptable and legal, WISC-TV reported.

"It's kind of a sad day I think for Wisconsin," he said. "I think that these cases have really highlighted the potential for abuse of power, so I don't think it's a happy day for anybody here."

Sentencing is expected to be scheduled for some time in April, WISC-TV reported.

The Dane County jury had resumed deliberations on Saturday after they got the case on Thursday evening. They deliberated for about 17 hours, WISC-TV reported.

In closing arguments on Thursday, Blanchard and Meyer traded conflicting conclusions of the evidence and testimony presented during the three-week-long trial.

Prosecutors claimed Jensen spent almost four years violating his duty to campaign honestly, using state workers as campaign operatives so he could save money for a run for governor and gain a cheap edge over political opponents.

Meyer told jurors the line between state work and campaign activity is blurry. Meyer painted Jensen as a trustworthy politician who was trying to reform the system when prosecutors put "a target on his back" and charged him.

Schultz's attorney, Stephen Morgan, admitted that Schultz did campaign finance work and fundraising on state time but said that it wasn't as much as alleged by prosecutors. He said that the state hasn't proved that she tried to get a dishonest advantage -- a key element in deciding the case.

The strategy of Jensen's defense team during the trial was to show that he wasn't aware of what his employees were up to and that the line between campaign activity and state policy work is sometimes vague.

Jensen was once one of the most powerful lawmakers in Wisconsin, with aspirations of running for governor. Jensen stepped down as Assembly speaker after he was charged.

He is the last of five lawmakers who were charged in 2002 after media reports detailed similar allegations.

The other four legislators -- fellow ex-Republican Reps. Steve Foti and Bonnie Ladwig and former Democratic Sens. Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala -- all struck plea agreements with prosecutors to avoid trials.

Burke and Chvala were sentenced to jail time. Former Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Ladwig is expected to pay $4,500 in fines and restitution, WISC-TV reported.

Foti's deal with prosecutors entailed his pleading to a misdemeanor and the state recommending just 30 days in jail. He has already started a successful career as a lobbyist, WISC-TV reported.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.

NOTE: WISC-TV's Colin Benedict provided behind-the-scenes coverage of the Jensen trial in his new blog