DECATUR -
A jury has found Rep. Sue Schmitz guilty of seven of eight counts in her fraud trial.
The jury returned with the verdict just before 2:30pm.
The judge then released the jury, and released Schmitz on her own recognizance, provided she keeps in contact with her attorneys.
Sentencing will be held within the next 90 days, along with a forfeiture hearing.
This was Schmitz' second trial on the felony fraud charges. Her first trial last summer ended in a mistrial when jurors failed to reach an unanimous verdict.
Attorneys for Schmitz say they will likely appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors say Schmitz, 64, used political connections to get a job in the state's two-year college system and then doing little work. The charges stemmed from the long-running federal investigation of the state's two-year college system.
Tuesday's felony convictions automatically remove Schmitz from the Legislature. She was a Democrat representing Toney, in Madison County.
WHNT NewsChannel 19 Reporter Barry Hiett will have additional details, and interviews, tonight on WHNT NewsChannel 19 at 5:00 and 6:00.
The jury returned with the verdict just before 2:30pm.
The judge then released the jury, and released Schmitz on her own recognizance, provided she keeps in contact with her attorneys.
Sentencing will be held within the next 90 days, along with a forfeiture hearing.
This was Schmitz' second trial on the felony fraud charges. Her first trial last summer ended in a mistrial when jurors failed to reach an unanimous verdict.
Attorneys for Schmitz say they will likely appeal the verdict.
Prosecutors say Schmitz, 64, used political connections to get a job in the state's two-year college system and then doing little work. The charges stemmed from the long-running federal investigation of the state's two-year college system.
Tuesday's felony convictions automatically remove Schmitz from the Legislature. She was a Democrat representing Toney, in Madison County.
WHNT NewsChannel 19 Reporter Barry Hiett will have additional details, and interviews, tonight on WHNT NewsChannel 19 at 5:00 and 6:00.
