INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (NewsLink) -- Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler will spend one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
A federal judge made this decision Wednesday after Tyler chose to plead guilty. Tyler admitted to accepting $5,000 to steer a government contract after being arrested at his home in November of 2019.
The former mayor was granted his request to speak to the court saying, "I could have said 'no' and I wouldn't be standing before the court today."
One topic of discussion in the courtroom was the acceptance of the $5,000 "bribe", or as some call it a "tip" or "gratuity," because the exchange did not happen until after the bid had been given for the job.
The judge said he received more than 65 letters in support of the former mayor; however, the judge still called Tyler's act a "betrayal of democracy."
Tyler was 76-years-old when arrested and is now 78.
But he won't be heading to prison yet. He's free for now, until federal authorities tell him it's time to report for is sentence. After his release from prison, he'll serve three years on supervised release.
