State prosecutors landed their first conviction Monday stemming from a lengthy investigation into alleged corruption in Baltimore?s City Hall.
Dale Clark, 45, a former aide to now-Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, pleaded guilty to failing to file income tax returns. He was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $5,000. Clark also agreed to cooperate with authorities in their investigation.
Anthony McCarthy, Dixon?s spokesman, declined to comment.
Clark?s attorney, James Wiggins, said his client was caught up in an investigation that had little to do with him.
“He?s sort of collateral damage,” Wiggins said. “This was an investigation that wasn?t focusing on him. Then they discovered he didn?t file his tax returns. Normally, the state prosecutor doesn?t file criminal charges when someone doesn?t file their tax return. Normally, the comptroller?s office sends them a bill. Because of his involvement with politics, he was pursued criminally.”
Wiggins categorized the guilty plea as a good deal for his client.
“He was facing 10 years on each count,” Wiggins said. “Not serving any jail time is more than satisfactory.”
Clark served as chairman of Dixon?s City Council presidential campaign in 1996. From 2001 to 2004, Clark earned $600,000 under a no-bid contract to work on the city?s Web site while Dixon was City Council president. All city contracts worth more than $5,000 must be approved by the Board of Estimates.
Clark?s criminal case is the second pursued by state prosecutors stemming from their year-long investigation into City Hall.
In December, Mildred Boyer, president of Utech ? the company that employed Dixon?s sister Janice ? was indicted on charges of filing false documents. Two months later, Dixon was cleared by the city ethics board of any wrongdoing for voting to approve Utech contracts in her capacity as president of the city?s Board of Estimates.
Boyer?s trial is scheduled for Oct. 1.
