Judge rules lawmaker, ex-senator will not face conspiracy charge at trial

Both have denied wrongdoing.

Leftwich did not seek re-election, but she did not get the state job either. Gov. Brad Henry vetoed a reform bill creating the job after an investigation was announced.

Also, Terrill's friend, Rep. Mike Christian, chose to run for re-election instead of for the Senate because of the investigation.

Christian is not charged.

Leftwich's attorney, Robert McCampbell, said Monday that defense attorneys will ask another Oklahoma County district judge, Glenn Jones, to dismiss the bribery case before it comes to a trial.

“It is very weak, and we certainly expect to prevail at district court. Absolutely,” McCampbell said of the case.

Prosecutors want the conspiracy count in the case in part because it has a much harsher punishment than bribery.

A conspiracy conviction carries up to 10 years in prison. The maximum punishment for a conviction on the bribery charge is two years in prison.