Former legislator admits bribery, sentenced to 18 months probation

ANCHORAGE — Former Alaska legislator Vic Kohring will not serve additional jail time.

A judge in federal court in Anchorage sentenced Kohring to 18 months probation Friday. Prosecutors had asked for three years, but Kohring’s attorney said that anything more than one year was excessive.

Kohring showed up to court in the shaggy hairdo that has been a marked contrast from his clean-cut legislative days, but has been the norm for him since the legal process began. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt over a collared shirt and tie. He remains, as he has been throughout the process, penniless, saying he is currently unemployed but does do occasional, part-time construction-related work.

He did not make a statement, only answered questions from U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline. He told the judge that everything in the plea agreement about him receiving two payments, one of $1,000 at a Douglas pub, from oilfield services company VECO executives was true. He admitted he knew the payments were to buy his support on pending oil tax legislation.

Asked if he had any substances in his system that might impair his judgment, Kohring said he was on painkillers for injuries he received in a car crash and an anti-anxiety medication to alleviate the stress of his situation.

Neither, he said, was impairing his judgment.

Kohring declined interview requests immediately after his sentencing, saying, “I’d like to, but not today,” and suggested reporters email him.

He went directly from the courtroom to the federal probations office, then left through the front door.

Since the charge of conspiracy he pleaded guilty to is a felony, Kohring won’t be able to own a gun for the rest of his life, though state law does allow felons to possess long arms such as rifles, federal laws do not. While on probation, he won’t be allowed to serve on a jury, vote or hold public office. Some of those rights can be restored after his probation ends.

U.S. Attorney for Alaska Karen L. Loeffler said that Kohring’s sentencing ends the five-year prosecution of public corruption in the state.

“This really brings to an end the largest and most successful corruption investigation ever in the state of Alaska,” Loeffler said. “We are done. This is over.”

Judge Beistline almost seemed to be scolding Kohring when he spoke of how the former legislator had violated the public’s trust.

“And for what? A pittance. We’re not talking about a whole lot of money,” he said.

He told Kohring that while those who bribed him — VECO executives Rick Smith and BIll Allen — were bad people, Kohring and the seven other state officials who assisted their malfeasance were also culpable.

“They were only successful because people like you catered to their egos,” the judge said.

But, he said, hopefully other state legislators have gotten the message. “Everyone now knows that it’s not acceptable.”

Loeffler echoed those sentiments, saying she felt Alaska politics had entered a new era. She noted that the six state lawmakers convicted in the corruption investigation represent 10 percent of the state Legislature, and the investigation led to the conviction of four important, non-legislative conspirators, including Allen and Smith, a lobbyist and another businessman.

One thing she didn’t bring up until asked, though, was the prosecutorial misconduct that led to the Kohring’s conviction at a 2007 trial on the same charges being overturned and the disintegration of the case against the most high-profile defendant in the investigation, the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

Loeffler said that her office has learned from those mistakes and intends never to repeat them. She said when Kohring’s case looked to be headed back to trial, her office handed over reams of information. One of the misconduct allegations had to do with not turning over evidence to the defense.

But she couldn’t say anything about the investigation into the prosecutors, which is being handled in Washington, D.C.

“It’s very important that we do things fairly and openly, but it’s still under review so I can’t comment on it,” Loeffler said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.