Former Rendell aide is convicted

HARRISBURG - A former state representative and Pennsylvania revenue secretary was convicted of corruption Wednesday in what could be the final trial from a five-year-old state investigation.

A Dauphin County Court jury found Stephen Stetler guilty on six felony counts stemming from his alleged participation in a scheme to use public employees to do illegal campaign work. His case was the last of 25 defendants in the state attorney general's legislative corruption probe to be resolved.

The jurors convicted him on all the charges he faced: four counts of theft and one each of conspiracy and conflict of interest. Stetler, a Democrat from York County, and his lawyer, Joshua Lock, declined to comment as they left the courtroom. Sentencing will likely occur in about three months.

A prosecutor said the convictions validated the findings of a grand jury and state agents that prompted the charges.

"Once again, this shows that there was a pattern of corruption in the Pennsylvania state legislature," said Senior Deputy Attorney General Ken Brown.

Stetler, 62, remained free on bail pending sentencing.

Brown said sentencing guidelines call for at least nine months' incarceration for a theft conviction.

Stetler is all but certain to lose his state pension.

During five days of testimony, prosecutors portrayed Stetler as a willing participant in a scheme by House Democratic leaders to illegally have taxpayer-paid legislative employees perform campaign work. The defense argued that Stetler did not break the law and should not be held responsible for other leaders' actions.

Numerous people testified as character witnesses for Stetler, including former Gov. Ed Rendell, whom he served as revenue secretary for about a year before he was charged.