Florida

Judge Upholds Guilty Verdict for Ex-Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman

Former Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman's guilty verdict on corruption charges was upheld by a judge Thursday.

Last month, a jury found Bateman guilty on two counts of unlawful compensation, unregistered lobbying, exploitation of his position and acquiring financial interests related to a secret consulting job with a Florida health clinic company.

On Thursday, the judge struck down one of the unlawful compensation charges.

Prosecutors said Bateman was a consultant with a Florida health care company, CHI, and pressed other local leaders, such as Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, for work while on the job.

Bateman was elected Homestead's mayor in 2009 and won re-election in 2011. He served as the city's vice mayor and councilman and was the chairman of the city's planning and zoning board. He lost the mayoral primary last October, finishing in third.

Bateman faces anywhere from probation to 15 years in prison at sentencing in December.

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