A Miami-Dade County jury found former Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman guilty of two felony counts of corruption Monday afternoon after just a few hours of deliberations.
However, according to the Miami Herald, the judge in the case didn’t adjudicate Bateman guilty because of “substantial issues” raised by the defense team in motions to dismiss.
Bateman, 59, was arrested in August 2013 on charges that include 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.
Bateman was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors. He was found not guilty on the misdemenaor counts.
The trial featured testimony from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who took the stand last week.
Prosecutors said Bateman was a consultant with a Florida health care company, CHI, and pressed other local leaders, such as Mayor Gimenez, for work while on the job.
Bateman has denied the claims.
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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 in October, finishing in third.
Bateman faces anywhere from probation to 15 years in prison.
