W. Carlton Weddington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
W. Carlton Weddington
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Weddington accepting a bribe from the FBI
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| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 27th district |
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| In office January 5, 2009 - March 13, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Joyce Beatty |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Boyce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 4, 1970 Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Columbus, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Hampton University |
Wilburn Carlton Weddington is a former politician from Ohio. He used to be a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, which is a group of people who make laws for the state of Ohio. He had to leave his job in 2012 because of legal problems related to his work. He was found guilty of these issues and spent some time in prison.
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Early life and education
Wilburn Carlton Weddington was born in Columbus, Ohio, on April 4, 1970. His father was a doctor and a university professor. Carlton was one of five children in his family. He went to Hampton University and earned a degree in political science, which is the study of how governments work.
Political career
Before joining the Ohio House, Weddington worked in different public service roles. He helped connect people with job and family services. He also served on the Columbus School Board from 2006 to 2009. He was also a leader in the Ohio School Board Association.
Serving in the Ohio House
In 2008, Weddington ran for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. The Democratic Party group in the House supported his campaign. He won the election and became the representative for the 27th District.
While in the House, Weddington held important roles. He was the Secretary for a political action committee (PAC) that supported Black lawmakers. He was also the Vice Chairman of a committee that focused on local government and public services.
In 2010, Weddington ran for re-election and won again. He continued to work on several important committees. These included committees for local government, criminal justice, and public utilities. He also helped with the state's budget, especially for health and human services.
What he worked on
Weddington spoke about important issues during his time in office. He believed that the state governor should have a more diverse group of people working for him.
He also talked about a plan that would let county court clerks help people register their cars. Weddington thought this plan might make it harder for small businesses that already did this work.
Weddington also spoke out against a bill that would require people to show a photo ID to vote. He felt this rule could make it harder for some people, especially African American voters, to cast their ballots.
Legal issues and leaving office
The FBI started looking into concerns about how laws were being made in Ohio. They learned that Weddington had asked for favors or money that wasn't allowed from people who wanted certain laws passed. For example, he once asked a lobbyist for "serious cheese" (money) or tickets to a basketball game.
To investigate, FBI agents pretended to be from a fake California wine company. They offered Weddington expensive meals and trips to places like California and Miami. In return, Weddington helped them by trying to pass a law that would make it easier for their fake company to sell wine in Ohio. He did not report these gifts as he was supposed to on his official forms.
In March 2012, Weddington was charged with several crimes. These included taking bribes, giving false information about his election money, and not reporting gifts on his ethics forms. These charges could have led to a prison sentence.
After talking with his lawyers, Weddington agreed to help the FBI. He resigned from his position in the Ohio House on March 13, 2012. He also stopped running for re-election. The prosecutor said that this was the first time in almost 100 years that a lawmaker in Ohio had been charged with bribery.
In June 2012, Weddington pleaded guilty to some of the charges. He was sentenced to three years in prison. He started his sentence in August 2012.
In 2014, Weddington's lawyers asked for him to be released from prison early. They said he had been a good inmate, helping other prisoners learn to read and taking classes. However, the judge said no to this request at first.
Weddington was later released from prison early on October 30, 2014. This was about 10 months before his original sentence was supposed to end.
Images for kids
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W. Carlton Weddington accepting a bribe from the FBI
