UPDATED: Former Walker Aide is Fined but Avoids Jail Time

Posted: Thu 2:36 PM, Jan 10, 2013

UPDATED Thursday, January 10, 2013 --- 2:35 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A former aide to Gov. Scott Walker has been sentenced to a year of probation after she was convicted of doing campaign work on county time.

Darlene J. Wink was also ordered Thursday to pay a fine and courts costs of $2,000. She pleaded guilty last year to two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by a public employee.

Wink worked for Walker when he was the Milwaukee County executive.

She faced a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. However, prosecutors agreed not to recommend prison because the 62-year-old had a clean record and she cooperated with the prosecution of other cases.

Before sentencing, Wink offered a tearful apology and said she recognizes what she did was wrong.

Walker has not been charged with wrongdoing.

______________________________________________

UPDATED Thursday, January 10, 2013 -- 8:25 a.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A former aide to Gov. Scott Walker is due to be sentenced on charges that she did campaign work on county time.

Darlene J. Wink faces a sentencing hearing Thursday afternoon. She pleaded guilty last year to two misdemeanor charges of political solicitation by a public employee.

The charges carry a maximum combined penalty of one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. However, as part of a plea agreement prosecutors have agreed to recommend probation and restitution but no jail time.

Assistant district attorney Bruce Landgraf notes that Wink has a clean criminal record, and she also cooperated with the prosecution of other cases.

A message left with her defense attorney was not immediately returned.

Wink used to work for Walker when he was the Milwaukee County executive.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTED: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 --- 2:15 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The sentencing for a former aide to Gov. Scott Walker has been postponed for a third time, to help compel her cooperation in a separate case.

Darlene Wink had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of working on a political campaign while she was supposed to be doing her county job for Walker, then the Milwaukee County executive.

She was to be sentenced Wednesday. However, the judge granted a prosecutor's request to push the sentencing back. The prosecution wants Wink to testify against Tim Russell on Dec. 3. Russell is accused of stealing more than $21,000 from a nonprofit organization.

The sentencing has been postponed to Jan. 10.

Defense attorney Peter Wolff says Wink is frustrated that her case is still lingering, but that she'll continue to cooperate.

Milwaukee officer accidentally shoots suspect