Yep, that vaunted Christian moral superiority
http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/143582.html
Roosevelt "Sonny" Swartz doesn't attend Owingsville First Church of
God, but the Bath County businessman is well known to the
congregation. If someone is in need -- a cancer patient, a disabled
person who is having trouble making ends meet, a child in need of
expensive medical care -- Swartz is there, wallet in hand.
"To my knowledge, there is no factory, business or organization that
gives nearly as much to our community as Sonny gives each year," the
Rev. Lowell Rice, pastor of the church, wrote to U.S. District Judge
Joseph Hood.
But Swartz, who owns his own mowing business, also used his money to
help then-Bath County Judge-Executive Walter Shrout buy votes from
some of the poorest people in Bath County during the May 2006 primary,
Hood noted.
He sentenced Swartz to two years' probation, a $20,000 fine and 250
hours of community service yesterday in federal court in Lexington.
Swartz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to buy votes during
his May trial.
Swartz, 69, of Olympia, must spend six months of the two-year
probation on home arrest. He will be required to wear an electronic
monitoring device and can leave home only to go to work. His 250 hours
of community service will be spent raising money for a new animal
shelter in Bath County, Hood said.
Steve Reed, one of Swartz's attorneys, told Hood before sentencing
that his own family has benefited from Swartz's good nature and
integrity. More than 30 years ago, Swartz, who then worked for
contractor W.L. Harper, hired Reed's stepfather, at a time when few
African-Americans were working in construction.
--
Yang
a.a.#28
"I can hardly wait for your head to explode when the Repubs hold onto
both houses of Congress this November. And Yang can quote me on that."
-Fred Stone, 6/14/2006
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