Wirth Pleads Guilty in Meth Case

Former State Representative Kelly Wirth Courtesy: State of Oregon

(SALEM - AP) - Former State Rep. Kelley Wirth pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of methamphetamine in a scandal that began when Wirth was run over and seriously injured by a woman who accused Wirth of having an affair with her boyfriend.

In a brief proceeding in Marion County Circuit Court, the Corvallis Democrat was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 80 hours of community service.

As part of the sentencing, Judge Joseph Guimond ordered Wirth to have no contact with Fernando Mendez, who told police that he had had a sexual relationship with Wirth, which she denies.

Wirth, who is undergoing medical treatment for injuries to both legs, walked stiffly into courtroom with the aid of a cane Thursday morning.

She was hit in September by a car driven by Lisa Temple, who also said Wirth was having an affair with Mendez. He was Temple's boyfriend who at the time was a janitor at the Capitol.

Wirth said little during Thursday's court proceeding.

At one point, the judge asked her if she was guilty of possessing the drug.

"Yes, your honor," she responded.

As part of the sentence, the judge could have ordered a six-month suspension of her driver's license.

But he waived that punishment after Wirth said she needed to drive to medical appointments in Portland and to take her daughters to school and to activities.

After the court sentencing, Wirth brushed past reporters without making a statement.

Her attorney, Gale Rieder, said Wirth "is very glad to have this matter resolved" and is "looking forward to achieving blessed anonymity."

Wirth resigned from the Legislature in November after being cited for possession of what Salem police said was a small amount of methamphetamine found in her car. She had pleaded not guilty to the drug charge, but changed her plea after working out an agreement with prosecutors.

Wirth still faces a separate state inquiry into whether she violated ethics law by giving pay raises to her mother, who was on the legislative payroll as an aide. The Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission opened an investigation into the matter in February.

Records showed that Wirth had listed her mother, Kathleen Panknin, as an aide for more than two years. Wirth paid her mother $3,000 a month in September, $3,500 in mid-October and $6,500 in November. She reversed the raises after questions were raised about them.