For the second time in a year, a former state representative is headed to prison for ethics problems while he was in office.
Former state Rep. Clayton Luckie pleaded guilty to eight charges out of 50 and got a three year prison sentence for skimming as much as 150-thousand dollars out of his campaign fund over a six year period. Luckie told the court he wanted to apologize to his constituents, his family and his colleagues at the Statehouse for what he called his errors in judgment.
“I’d tell them that I’m human, and I have fallen short in this instance,” says Luckie.
This is the second time in a year that a state representative has gone from the Statehouse to prison. Former Columbus Rep. Carlton Weddington, also a Democrat, admitted accepting all-expense paid trips as bribes to introduce legislation. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien says any other lawmakers who aren’t following the rules should take notice.
“The message it sends is that eventually you’ll be caught and there will be serious sanctions,” says O'Brien.
O’Brien said the plea deal included Luckie’s cooperation with federal agents investigating payday lending legislation at the Statehouse. Weddington had also been interviewed by the FBI before he started his three year prison sentence.