Alaska rep. guilty in conspiracy case

EAGLE RIVER, Alaska, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A federal jury has convicted former Alaska state Rep. Pete Kott, R-Eagle River, of conspiring to promote an oil tax sought by industrial interests.

Kott, who served 14 years in the state legislature, was found guilty of conspiracy, bribery and extortion for working with Veco Corp. executives to push the tax, The Anchorage Daily News reported Wednesday.

However, the jury found him not guilty of a fourth charge, wire fraud.

Jim Wendt, a lawyer for Kott, said his client is likely to appeal. He said instructions given to the jury by the judge may constitute grounds for an appeal.

“The jury instructions were a little ambiguous regarding the bribery and extortion charges,” Wendt said.

Prosecutors said Kott is likely to face more than four years in prison at his Dec. 7 sentencing hearing.