Former Oklahoma Senate leader gets probation for bribery

OKLAHOMA CITY – The former leader of the Oklahoma Senate has avoided prison after being convicted on a federal bribery charge.

Former Senate President Pro-Tem Mike Morgan was sentenced Tuesday to five years' probation and no fines. Morgan had faced up to 10 years in prison.

Jurors convicted the Democrat of bribery during in March, but they acquitted him of related extortion and mail fraud counts and couldn't reach a verdict on other counts.

The bribery charge accused Morgan of accepting $12,000 from an assisted living center and attempting to influence legislation that would've eased regulations on the nursing home industry in Oklahoma.

Morgan, an attorney from Stillwater, insisted the money was for legal fees for work he did for the company. Prosecutors alleged he did no legal work.