LINCOLN- Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry will not go to prison for lying and misleading federal investigators, a California federal judge announced this week.

U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld sentenced the 61-year-old Republican to two years’ probation, a $25,000 fine and 320 hours of community service.

Blumenfeld said he didn’t agree with prosecutors — who had suggested a six-month prison term — that spending time behind bars would provide a significant deterrent to future crimes involving politicians lying to investigators.

The judge said he read and took into consideration the 64 letters submitted to the court asking for leniency, letters that came from family, friends, Bishop James Conley of the Lincoln Catholic Diocese, and Lt. Gov. Mike Foley. Blumenfeld also noted that three others indicted in “Operation Titan’s Grip” did not get prison time.

Fortenberry betrayed no emotion when the sentence was finally announced and declined to address the court.

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