Former Democratic state Sen. Roderick Wright was released 70 minutes after surrendering to serve what was supposed to be a 90-day jail term as part of his sentence for living outside the district he was elected to represent, a sheriff’s official said today.
Wright turned himself in at 9:30 p.m. Friday and was released at 10:40 p.m. due to jail overcrowding, according to sheriff’s Public Information Officer Nicole Nishida.
Wright was indicted in 2010 and convicted Jan. 28 of five counts of fraudulent voting, two counts of perjury by declaration and one count of filing a false declaration of candidacy. Prosecutors said Wright was living in Baldwin Hills, roughly five miles outside the Inglewood-area district he was elected to represent in November 2008.
During the trial, his attorney — Winston Kevin McKesson — maintained Wright “followed the law,” telling jurors he had “established domicile” at the Inglewood property, where his stepmother was renting a unit from him.
Wright was sentenced last month to 90 days in jail, three years probation and 1,500 hours of community service.
He was suspended from the state Senate after his conviction, and submitted his resignation three days after his sentencing hearing last month. As a result of his conviction, he is barred from holding future public office in the state.
