— Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler on Wednesday was sentenced to a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting $5,000 from a contractor who had received city contracts. “I stand before you so ashamed, sorry and absolutely scared to death for what might happen next,” the 78-year-old Tyler told U.S. District Judge James Sweeney II before the sentence was imposed. Tyler was indicted by a federal grand jury in Indianapolis in November 2019 — a few weeks before his second and final term as Muncie mayor ended — on a count of theft of government funds. “I could have said no (to the payment) and I wouldn’t be standing before you today,” Tyler told the judge on Wednesday. The former mayor will remain free for the time being until told by federal authorities when to report to prison.

Source: The Star November 11, 2021 09:44 UTC