Sources say Easley has agreed to a plea deal

Former Gov. Mike Easley has agreed to a plea deal in the long-running state and federal probes into his actions while he was in office.

A hearing has been set for noon Tuesday at the Wake County Courthouse, according to a statement from Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens. Any deal could still fall apart because Easley or prosecutors could change their minds. And a judge must accept any deal.

Still, all indications Monday were that a deal has been reached.

Officials would not comment publicly, but multiple sources have told The News & Observer that Easley, a Democrat who served two terms each as North Carolina's governor and attorney general, had agreed to a deal with prosecutors.

The plea to a felony would be entered in state court. As part of the deal, federal authorities would not take any other action against Easley.

Under sentencing guidelines, Easley is unlikely to receive an active prison sentence. He would face a possible fine, and the potential loss of his law license.

Easley, 60, has been the subject of news reporting and official investigations since he left office.

Among the concerns were that Easley did not properly report flights on private planes; that he did not disclose receiving a $137,000 discount on property at the coast; that he accepted free golf dues valued at more than $50,000; that he was involved in creating a job for his wife at N.C. State University; and that he used campaign money to fix his home in Raleigh but did not account for it in public disclosures.

Last year, the state Board of Elections fined his campaign $100,000, tied to free flights, and referred the case to a state prosecutor for further review.

That prosecutor, William Kenerly of Rowan County, has been handling the case since. He recently had said decisions in the case were expected in November.