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Mansho faces
prison for theft

A prosecutor says the former
councilwoman entered a plea deal


By Treena Shapiro

tshapiro@starbulletin.com

Former City Councilwoman Rene Mansho faces up to 15 years in prison on two theft counts filed in Circuit Court this morning.

"Given the nature of the offense as well as the breach of the public trust, we will be asking for incarceration in this matter," said deputy prosecutor Randy Lee. "We will be asking for the full term."

Lee said there was a plea agreement between Mansho and the city prosecutor's office but declined to elaborate, other than to say that he expects the matter to be resolved shortly without a trial.

Lee said the judge could also sentence Mansho to probation or community service and order restitution of any money allegedly stolen.

Mansho's attorney James Koshiba could not be reached for comment this morning.

Prosecutors charged Mansho with first-degree theft for allegedly stealing more than $20,000 from April 1, 1989 to Dec. 31, 2000 and second-degree theft for allegedly taking more than $300 from the Friends of Rene Mansho from Jan. 1, 1994 to Aug. 31, 2000.

The first count carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $20,000 and the second count carries a maximum five-year sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

Mansho allegedly misused her campaign funds and made her Council staff do campaign activities on city time.

Last year, she was fined $40,000 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for misspending campaign funds and also reimbursed the Council $40,000 for misusing staff time after the city Ethics Commission found her in violation.

"The bottom line is this: When you steal from the public, it's unacceptable," Lee said. "And a slap on the wrist I think is something that sends a bad message to the public because we're dealing with taxpayer money, we're not dealing with private entities."



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