Howard Lestrud
ECM Online Editor

The appeal process for former State Rep. Loren Jennings, 54, Harris, continues with an extension granted to file opening briefs, according to his attorneys Douglas A. Kelley and Steve Wolter.

On March 20, Jennings was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to make restitution and forfeiture of funds totaling nearly $569,000.

Jennings was convicted July 26, 2005 after a nine-day trial of two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering, accused of using his state office to financially benefit a firm in which he had a financial investment.

He was acquitted on four other counts including conspiracy charges to commit mail fraud and to commit money laundering.

Jennings was accused of using his position in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that made it possible for ratepayersí conservation funds to be spent on a utility pole recycling company, Northern Pole Inc.

Jenningsí companies loaned about $670,000 to Northern Pole. Jenningsí lobbying of Minnesota Power and Northern States Power Co. (now Xcel Energy) resulted in payments of $650,000 to Northern Pole from conservation funds.

More than $284,000 was said to have made payments on Jenningsí loans.

Jennings was a state lawmaker for 18 years.

Kelley and Wolter filed an appeal within the 10-day time limit required.

Judge Richard Kyle sentenced Jennings in March and ordered him turned over to the U.S. Magistrate on May 2. He reported on that date and is serving his prison time at a federal prison camp in Oxford, WI, about 60 miles north of Madison.

Wolter said transcripts from the July 2005 trial have been requested and attorneys are awaiting receipt of them. Once received, briefs will be filed and oral arguments will then be heard before an 8th Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel in either St. Paul or St. Louis, MO.

Following his sentencing last March, Jennings issued a statement through his attorneys in which he said: ì. . .Iím disappointed with the outcome, of course. I just want to move through this and get back to my family, my work and my community.î

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