Democratic State Senator Roderick Wright was sentenced on Friday to 90 days in jail, three years of probation, and 1,500 hours of community service after being convicted on federal perjury and voting fraud charges in January. Wright is also banned for life from holding public office.
While running to represent California’s 25th State Senate district in 2008, Wright lied about his residence to qualify for the ballot, according to the Desert Sun. He claimed he lived in an Inglewood apartment complex within the 25th District, but prosecutors were able to show that Wright’s true residence was a Baldwin Hills home outside the district.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Judge Kathleen Kennedy did not accept Wright’s argument that he had moved enough personal possessions into the Inglewood apartment complex to qualify it as his new home. Kennedy called Wright’s actions “arrogant,” as if he believed “the law doesn’t apply to him.”
“It didn’t pass the smell test and it doesn’t now,” Kennedy reportedly said.
Wright will begin serving his sentence on October 31, according to the Times. Wright’s attorney, Winston Kevin McKesson, vowed to appeal the case.
Wright was suspended with pay in March along with state senators Leland Yee and Ronald Calderon, who face criminal charges of their own in separate cases. Wright will now either step down from his state Senate seat or be voted down by a 2/3 majority.
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