A Helena jury found former state Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct for awarding $170,000 in no-bid contracts to a company represented by a long-time business associate. Jury deliberations took nearly four hours and left Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican, potentially facing a six-month jail sentence. Ellsworth exited the courthouse shortly after the verdict was read. Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Christopher Abbott set Ellsworth’s sentencing for Sept. 10.
