Kohring maintains innocence, enters '€˜not guilty'€™ plea

ANCHORAGE — In the wake of fellow former state lawmakers being convicted of and admitting to bribery and corruption, seven-time House member Vic Kohring maintains his innocence.

At his arraignment in U.S. District Courtroom 6 Tuesday afternoon, the former Wasilla representative told Judge John D. Roberts he would not change his position.

"Not guilty, your honor," Kohring said when asked to plead on federal charges he accepted money from officers of oil services company VECO Corp. in exchange for favorable votes on legislation.

His plea also comes less than a week following the release of an amended indictment that expanded upon Kohring's original indictment released in May. The superseding indictment adds allegations that extend the former lawmaker’s alleged conspiracy back to January 2002.

Federal investigators allege that as early as 2002, Kohring was provided cash payments of about $500 to $1,000 by then VECO Chief Executive Officer Bill Allen and VECO Vice President Rick Smith to reward Kohring for "official acts taken and to be taken regarding [Allen] and [Smith's] business interests," the revised indictment says. It alleges that Kohring, at the behest of Allen, laid off an aide who had filed a complaint with the Alaska Public Officials Commission against a legislator Allen and VECO supported.

The revised indictment also changes language in the allegation that Kohring solicited $17,000 from Allen and Smith to help pay his credit card debt that was in collection. Initially defined as a loan, the $17,000 is now deemed a payment to Kohring, who told Allen and Smith he did not have the money to pay the debt and was under pressure to do so.

Kohring told Allen and Smith the debt was a "personal financial matter" that "potentially could hurt me politically," the indictment says.

When asked Tuesday if Kohring's legal team has enough time to deal with the superseding indictment before Kohring's trial begins Oct. 22, Wayne Ross, an attorney representing Kohring at Tuesday’s plea hearing, seemed confident.

“Oh yeah, there is nothing new here,” he said.

Ross was filling in for Seattle attorney John Henry Browne, who was unavailable to attend the hearing.

The arraignment for USA v. Kohring took a few minutes and was sparsely attended, mostly by members of the media. Three attorneys represented the federal government.

Allen is expected to testify against Kohring. The former VECO CEO cut a deal to testify against former Rep. Pete Kott, who was convicted by a jury last month, and Kohring. During Kott’s trial, Allen’s testimony was damaging as he described conversations and arrangements he had with the former legislator, including cash payments and other bribes. In return, Kott voted how Allen wanted on the Petroleum Profits Tax. Prosecutors also have a videotaped conversation between Allen and Smith that shows Allen talking about giving Kohring $1,000.

Political watchdog and Mat-Su Valley resident Myrl Thompson attended Tuesday’s plea hearing said Kohring acted like the amiable politician who won seven straight House elections. Kohring seemed in good spirits, shaking hands with prosecutors and making small talk with reporters before entering the courtroom.

Kohring and Ross went over papers while they waited for the arraignment to begin.

"I've been doing my homework,” Kohring said. “Believe me, I wanted to be ready for this one.”

Judge Roberts accepted Kohring’s not guilty plea and set his trial to begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 22 at the federal courthouse in Anchorage.