BILLINGS – A former Montana lawmaker accused of political corruption is out of jail after agreeing to release financial documents.
A judge on Tuesday jailed 48-year-old Wesley Prouse, of Shepherd, for contempt of court. Prouse allegedly failed to pay a $59,000 fine for violating campaign finance laws.
Prouse attorney Quentin Rhoades tells the Montana Standard Prouse intends to comply with the court order. Prouse now has a week to release documents showing whether he can pay the fine.
The fine stems from Prouse’s acceptance of over $9,000 in illegal and unreported corporate campaign contributions in 2010.
The unreported spending included fliers attacking one of his opponents in the Republican primary for a state Senate seat. Prouse lost in the primary.
He served in the Legislature in the 1990s.