Tony Rutledge pleaded guilty to one count of helping to file a false tax return in 1997 for Star Beach Boys Inc., a corporation started by his father, Hawai'i labor patriarch Arthur Rutledge.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tony Rutledge would be sentenced to five years of probation.

His son Aaron pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of witness tampering and would be sentenced to one year of probation.

The agreement also called for return of Unity House Inc., a nonprofit labor organization seized by federal authorities in December, to the control of its former board of directors. The two Rutledges cannot have anything to do with Unity House at least during the terms of their probations.

Judge Ezra said he had "serious reservations" about the plea agreement and delayed its effect until the sentencing scheduled in April of next year.

The Rutledges were charged with multiple felonies in a December 13-count indictment that alleged they committed tax and wire fraud and criminal conspiracy. They had pleaded not guilty to the charges.