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MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) — A newly elected Pennsylvania city councilman says he should be sworn in because he's paid his debt to society for a 1993 felony drug conviction — but he really hasn't.
Corey Sanders, 45, still owes more than $36,000 in fines and restitution, according to court records.
The McKeesport councilman-elect has been seeking a pardon from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to take office after he was prevented from being sworn in with his colleagues Monday. The Democrat pleaded no contest to two felony drug counts 23 years ago and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Sanders said he addressed the fines and restitution in his pardon application, but referred further comment to his attorney, Rachel Morocco, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported (bit.ly/1PLS5ja). She didn't respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
The Board of Pardons recommends to the governor whether to grant a pardon and has a backlog of about 1,500 cases, said Gary Tuma, spokesman for Lt. Gov. and Board Chairman Michael Stack.
Tuma said the board considers the cases in the order in which they are received and it could take up to three months before the application is officially filed.
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Information from: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, http://pghtrib.com
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