Cahill fined $100k to end corruption case

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Former Massachusetts treasurer Tim Cahill agreed to pay a $100,000 civil fine in exchange for prosecutors dropping a criminal case against him.

Cahill, a former gubernatorial candidate, acknowledged he violated the state's civil ethics law but he will not have to face a second trial on corruption charges, under an agreement announced Friday at a hearing in Suffolk Superior Court. He will have four years to pay the $100,000.

“I’m just very, very happy for my family, for my wife, for all of my kids, that this is behind me and that we got a civil outcome to this case,” said Cahill on Friday.

Cahill, 54, was accused of scheming to use $1.5 million of state lottery money for an ad campaign designed to boost his 2010 gubernatorial campaign. His first trial ended in a mistrial in December when a jury was unable to reach a verdict.

“Folks, we’re looking forward. We’re not looking back at this point. We think that the agreement...speaks for itself,” said Brad Bailey, Cahill’s attorney.

The agreement states Cahill will be placed on pretrial probation for at least 18 months, but could total four years. After that, his probation will end whenever he has paid the full fine, but he must pay within four years. While Cahill is on pretrial probation he won’t be able to hold public office.

“I’m looking at the private sector -- that’s where I want to be right now. That’s where I’ve wanted to be for the last two years and that’s where I’m going to go,” said Cahill.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, disappointed when a jury was deadlocked in Cahill’s case last December, opted not to spend the money to try Cahill again. She said the fine and probation in the case is fair.

“Treasurer Cahill has now acknowledged that he violated our state ethics law during his campaign,” said Coakley. “He has also paid a significant penalty as a result of [Friday’s] agreement.”

Cahill’s attorney initially said campaign funds could be used to pay the fine, he retracted that when informed the attorney general’s office would consider that a violation of the law.

“My understanding, based on the agreement we had negotiated was he was not forced to simply pay from personal funds. I guess he can go out and raise money and pay it from those funds. I guess any monies that were previously designated as campaign funds for the campaign, perhaps are not usable,” said Jeffrey Denner, Cahill’s attorney.

Cahill will owe $25,000 a year over the next four years. Coakley said she doesn’t believe that the case will impact Cahill’s pension.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.