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Disgraced Former Santa Clara Supervisor Jailed For Year Over Misuse Of Funds

SANTA CLARA (KCBS)— Disgraced former Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa was sentenced to a year in county jail and three years of probation Friday for the 12 criminal counts he plead guilty to involving misuse of campaign and taxpayer funds.

Shirakawa blamed his troubles on a gambling addiction when he plead guilty last March to splurging tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds at casinos.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen thinks the former supervisor deserves time behind bars.

"I think the fact that this behavior went on for as long as it did and the seriousness of the crime that he committed merits jail time," said Rosen.

Disgraced Former Santa Clara Supervisor Faces Sentencing For Misuse Of Funds

"You can expect to hear the harm to the community. You can expect to hear the harm to the county and you can expect to hear from people who were jilted by writing campaign checks," said Assistant District Attorney Karyn Sinunu-Towery.

Shirakawa is set to be sentenced on a separate count on December 4th that involves sending out a false campaign mailer.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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