Another Defendant Pleads Guilty In Perzel Corruption Case

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Another co-defendant in the public corruption case against state former House Speaker John Perzel has pled guilty to charges in a Harrisburg courtroom.

The case centers on allegations that taxpayer-funded computer technology was used for campaign purposes. Five people associated with the state House Republican caucus, including former Speaker John Perzel of Philadelphia, have already pled guilty to charges in the case (see related story). On Thursday, former caucus employee Elmer "Al" Bowman became the sixth, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Prosecutor Frank Fina says Bowman participated in the use of public resources for campaign purposes, "Yes, what he pled to involved a company vendor by the name of GCR that had been paid with taxpayer monies to create a number of very sophisticated campaign programs."

Fina says Bowman was one of the first defendants to cooperate and is expected to testify when three remaining defendants in the case – including former House GOP Whip Brett Feese – go on trial starting Monday.

Reported by Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060