Anniston architect pleads guilty to reduced charge

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Anniston architect pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aiding and abetting the obstruction of justice in the two-year colleges corruption case and will spend six months in home confinement.

Julian Jenkins, 76, was to go on trial in federal court in Birmingham on Monday on charges of bribing former Alabama two-year colleges chancellor Roy Johnson. His lawyers had been working with the government on the plea deal for the past three weeks. Jenkins entered his plea Wednesday.

Based on the plea agreement, Jenkins will be sentenced to three years of probation, with a condition of six months of home confinement, a $1,000 fine and restitution, the amount of which is to be determined later.

“I believe this resolution is good for both the defendant as well as the government,“ defense attorney Doug Jones said. “This resolution is one that everybody is happy with and gets the matter resolved.“

Prosecutors originally accused Jenkins of bribing Johnson by hiring his son and giving Johnson $40,000 worth of architectural plans and fabricated fireplaces for his Opelika home. Jenkins’ firm received more than $5 million in contracts for the college system in return.

U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance said the guilty plea shows those who commit such crimes will be held accountable.

“At an age when he should be enjoying his golden years in retirement, Mr. Jenkins must now live as a convicted felon and must pay back to the two-year college system his profits from the State contracts he sought after and was awarded,“ she said in a Thursday statement.

Jenkins will be prohibited from entering into any new contracts with the two-year college system for two years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre on Oct. 27.