Posted on: Thursday, March 17, 2005
Ex-housing chief gets chance for fresh start
Advertiser Staff
The former chairman of the state's public housing agency was granted a chance yesterday to have his criminal case involving illegal campaign donations dropped if he pays a $6,000 fine and performs 300 hours of community service.
If Segawa pays the fine, performs the community service and abides by conditions similar to probation for five years, the charges will be dropped.
Perkins' granting of the request is similar to the outcomes of dozens of cases involving architects, engineers and others who decided not to challenge charges of making illegal donations to Harris' campaign. Segawa asked for the deferral.
City deputy prosecutor Chris Van Marter did not seek any jail time, but he argued that Segawa should not be allowed to have the criminal case dropped.
Segawa's company also was fined $53,500 in 2003 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for illegal donations.
Authorities said the company illegally gave more than $26,000 to Harris' campaign and lower amounts to campaigns of other politicians.
Segawa and other board members resigned from the public housing agency in 2003 under pressure from federal housing officials over allegations of mismanagement.
Prosecutors have said Segawa's illegal donations case is not related to his role as chairman of the public housing agency. Correction: The photo with a previous version of this story was of someone else.
Wesley Segawa of Wesley R. Segawa and Associates pleaded no-contest in December to money laundering and contributing donations to former Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign under false names, but Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted Segawa's request to defer accepting those pleas.
Wesley Segawa
