P.G. Sittenfeld

The three-judge panel that rejected his appeal also suggested the high court review his case, and the Supreme Court takes more public corruption cases than other kinds.

The U.S. Sixth District Court of Appeals Wednesday ruled former Cincinnati City Council member P.G. Sittenfeld can stay out of prison pending an attempt to seek a review of his case by the high court.

A jury found Sittenfeld guilty on one charge of bribery and one charge of extortion in 2022.

Sittenfeld has served roughly 4 1/2 months of his 16 month sentence for his public corruption conviction.

U.S. District Court Judge Douglass Cole weighed many factors, including the sentences of two of Sittenfeld's fellow council members.

A federal judge signed an order telling former Cincinnati City Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld to return $20,000 at the center of his 2022 bribery conviction.

His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10 before U.S. District Judge Douglas Cole. Sittenfeld faces two to three years in prison after he was found guilty last July on one charge of bribery and one charge of attempted extortion.

City officials will ask former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld to repay his salary and benefits from 2020 and 2021, valued at roughly $71,500, after a jury found him guilty of bribery and attempted extortion last week.

"What P.G. was doing was new school corruption — not for personal gain, but political gain," says David Niven, associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati.

What is next for the former Cincinnati City Councilmember convicted in his public corruption trial?