Decker admits conspiracy in $50,000 deal to help House speaker Black

The agreement was struck with an unidentified Democrat at a Salisbury IHOP

Updated: Easley: Scandals are 'blight on the state'

RALEIGH - Former state Rep. Michael Decker admitted in federal court Tuesday that three years ago he abandoned the Republican Party and supported Jim Black for a third term as House speaker in exchange for a legislative job for Decker's son and $50,000.

Prosecutors would not identify the person with whom Decker struck his deal, but much disclosed in federal court Tuesday and in previous State Board of Elections hearings suggests it was Black himself.

Decker met the unidentified Democrat at a Salisbury IHOP restaurant, Decker's lawyer, David Freedman of Winston-Salem, said after court. Black and Decker met at the restaurant after the legislative elections in 2002, the Winston-Salem Journal has reported.

Black, now serving his fourth term as speaker, has said that once Decker decided to support him, he raised substantial amounts of campaign money for Decker. And prosecutors said Tuesday that much of the money given Decker for his vote went to his campaign account.

Black has not been charged and has said he has done nothing wrong.

Decker, 61, of Walkertown in Forsyth County, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Raleigh to a conspiracy charge that says he deprived the public of his honest services by engaging in extortion, mail fraud and money laundering. He is to be sentenced Nov. 1 and faces as much as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Decker must aid investigators from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the State Bureau of Investigation. That includes testifying in court and taking a polygraph exam.

"This kind of public corruption undermines our democracy and the legitimacy of legislative bodies," Acting U.S. Attorney George Holding said in a statement.

Decker is the fourth person to face criminal charges in connection with Black's political and legislative activities. He is the first to admit guilt.

Black could not be reached for comment Tuesday. One of his lawyers, Kenneth Bell of Charlotte, said in a statement that Decker "made up stories" to spare himself a hefty sentence for stealing campaign checks. Elections board hearings showed that Decker pocketed $3,400 in campaign checks that he received in early 2003.

"Speaker Black neither gave, promised nor offered Decker anything for his vote," Bell said. "After Decker told the speaker he intended to vote for him, the speaker offered to help Decker raise funds for what was sure to be a tough re-election campaign, just as he would have done for any member of his caucus. If Decker is telling the government anything other than this, he is not telling the truth."

Decker is a former 10-term lawmaker who often spoke up for issues pushed by Christian conservatives. He shocked the state's political establishment in 2003 when he announced that he would switch parties and support Black.

The switch deadlocked the House and allowed Black to share the speaker's post with Republican Rep. Richard Morgan.

Democrats regained control of the House in the 2004 elections, and Black was re-elected speaker.

The 2003 power-sharing arrangement bitterly divided Republicans, and it continued to play out in this year's primary, when Morgan lost to a party-backed candidate.

Decker appeared crestfallen as he walked into the federal building Tuesday morning. He stood for much of the hearing, even when U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III told him he could sit. Decker answered the judge's questions with a soft "Yes, sir." He declined to comment outside court.