Jump to content

Ernie Newton (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jayjg (talk | contribs) at 23:30, 5 May 2016 (→top: clean up, fix grammar/shorter, WP:OPED using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Not to be confused with Ernie Newton (actor).
Ernie Newton
Born
Ernest E. Newton II

(1956-02-21) February 21, 1956 (age 68)
Fairfax County, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
SpousePamela Newton
Children4; Ernest III, Chad, Enrico and Kayla

Ernest E. "Ernie" Newton (born February 21, 1956) is an American politician in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He pleaded guilty to felony charges in September 2005. Newton was released from federal prison in February 2010, is a convicted felon, and in 2012, was endorsed for State Senate by the Democratic Town Committee under Chairman Mario Testa.[1][2]

Early life and education

Born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia on February 21, 1956, Ernest E. Newton II received his bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1978.[3]

Career

Newton taught school and owned a consulting business, Progressive Training Associates Inc. He lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut and served on the Bridgeport City Council and is a Democrat, specifically part of the Democratic Party of Connecticut.

Newton served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1988 to 2003 and then served in the Connecticut State Senate from 2003 to 2006.[4]

Newton has admitted to receiving treatment for a crack cocaine habit in 1995 while serving Bridgeport.[5]

Progressive Training Associates Inc.

Newton started Progressive Training Inc., a non-profit company to assist lower-income families in Bridgeport and surrounding areas by providing vocational training and other services. This organization was used to funnel money to Newton and his partner, Warren Godbolt for personal gains.[6][7] Newton used his position to influence the State Bond Commission to award $100,000 to the organization.[8][9]

2005 felony convictions

Newton was tried and convicted for political corruption. At his trial, Newton calls himself "the Moses of his people."[10][11]

Newton pleaded guilty in September 2005 to charges of bribery, mail fraud and tax evasion.[12] In February 2010, he was released from the federal prison camp in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and moved to a halfway house in Waterbury, Connecticut.[13]

After his release from prison, he announced that he would be seeking reelection.[14]

2012 Democratic Town Committee endorsement

In May 2012, Ernie Newton received an endorsement from the Democratic Town Committee under Chairman Mario Testa to run for Senate.[15] In August 2012, he lost in a primary to Andres Ayala, Jr.[16][17]

2013 arrest

Newton was arrested in January 2013 on finance fraud charges.[18][19][20]

On January 16, 2015, Newton was convicted of three charges of "illegal practices in campaign financing." He was acquitted on a charge of witness tampering. The jury could not reach a verdict regarding two other counts of illegal practices in campaign financing and two counts of first-degree larceny so a mistrial was declared on those four charges. Newton is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2015.[21][22][23]

References

  1. ^ State senate race
  2. ^ http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Newton-could-go-to-trial-and-be-elected-5500775.php
  3. ^ Votesmart.org-Ernest Newton
  4. ^ Votesmart.org.-Ernest Newton
  5. ^ http://www.boston.com/yourtown/newton/articles/2012/05/26/ex_convict_newton_seeks_old_conn_senate_seat/
  6. ^ http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=307444&A=1949
  7. ^ http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Former-Bridgeport-Senator-Released-After-Corruption-Sentence-84723927.html
  8. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=bP_u0lO0pB4C&pg=PA226&lpg=PA226&dq=ernie+newton+convicted+felon&source=bl&ots=iH-ym80sWJ&sig=GPwB0TEQwnGqgzqRYuFSr4E9Ja8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=N4pdT9HPF-fL0QHh6PSdCw&ved=0CG8Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=ernie%20newton%20convicted%20felon&f=false
  9. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/09/20/former-conn-lawmaker-pleads-guilty/
  10. ^ Newton case
  11. ^ http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Newton-could-go-to-trial-and-be-elected-5500775.php
  12. ^ http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Ex-Sen-Newton-released-from-prison-enters-371293.php
  13. ^ http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Ex-Sen-Newton-released-from-prison-enters-371293.php
  14. ^ http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/politics/ex-senator-newton-out-of-jail-seeks-legislative-seat
  15. ^ State senate race
  16. ^ Bob Connors (January 4, 2013). "Former State Senator Ernest Newton Arrested Again". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved January 9, 2015. Newton won the endorsement of Bridgeport Democrats last May, but lost in a primary to Andres Ayala.
  17. ^ Neena Satija (August 14, 2012). "Ayala victory blocks return of Newton to Senate". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved January 9, 2015. Bridgeport -- State Rep. Andres Ayala Jr. won a three-way Democratic primary for the state Senate's 23rd District seat, defeating incumbent Edwin A. Gomes and blocking the return of former Sen. Ernest Newton II to the state Capitol after a prison sentence.
  18. ^ http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Ernest-Newton-arrested-on-campaign-finance-fraud-4168334.php
  19. ^ Christopher Keating (January 4, 2013). "Three-time convicted felon arrested again on campaign finance charges". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 9, 2015. Former state Sen. Ernest E. Newton, a quotable, three-time convicted felon who served nearly five years in federal prison on corruption charges, was arrested again Friday on charges of campaign finance fraud during his latest run for office.
  20. ^ Bob Connors (January 4, 2013). "Former State Senator Ernest Newton Arrested Again". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  21. ^ Michael P. Mayko (January 17, 2015). "Ernie Newton convicted again". Connecticut Post. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  22. ^ David Owens (January 16, 2015). "Hartford Jury Finds Newton Guilty On Some Charges In Campaign Finance Fraud Trial". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  23. ^ Samantha Schoenfeld and Mike Krafcik (January 16, 2015). "Former state Senator found guilty of using illegal campaign financing practices". FOX CT. Retrieved January 20, 2015.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ernie_Newton_(politician)&oldid=718843436"