Given a Break: Ex-Senator’s Restitution Payment Reduced

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – A former South Carolina state senator who resigned amid an ethics investigation and later pleaded guilty to misconduct is getting a break on restitution payments.

Robert Ford of Charleston was sentenced a year ago to five years of probation and ordered to pay $70,000 in restitution.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports a judge agreed Monday to reduce his payments to $500 for the next six months after which Ford will have to pay $550 monthly.

Ford originally was ordered to pay $1,700 a month. Officials say he is about $9,000 in arrears.

Ford is again running for the Senate seat he resigned from three years ago midway into Senate Ethics hearings on charges he used campaign donations for personal expenses and then tried to cover it up.