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First Posted: 11/12/2009
SCRANTON – Former Luzerne County Deputy Clerk William Brace has agreed to plead guilty to accepting a suit valued at $1,500 in exchange for helping a contractor obtain a contract with the county sometime between June 2007 and May 2008.
According to charges filed this morning by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Brace supported the contractor, who is not identified, in obtaining a contract with the county valued at more than $5,000. In exchange for his support, Brace traveled to New York City, where the contractor had Brace fitted for a tailor-made, monogramed suit. The charges do not identify the tailor.
Brace has a long history of public employment. He served as chief clerk for Wilkes-Barre City until 2001, when he retired. He then took a position as chief deputy for Clerk of Courts Bob Reilly. He stayed in that position until Decmeber 2005, when he took the position as chief clerk for the county commissioners. He retired in November 2008 to take a position as registrar of vital statistics for the state.
Under the plea agreement, Brace will plead guilty to one count of corrupt receipt of a reward for official action. Sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of four to 10 months in prison, but prosecutors have agreed to recommend a lesser sentence if Brace provides substantial assistance in helping the office investigate wrongdoing of others. The judge is not obligated to follow the guidelines, however, and could sentence Brace up to the maximum for the offense, which is 10 years in prison.
For the complete story read Friday’s Times Leader.