Prosecutor Conrad Hafen, a deputy attorney general, said he hopes the Peter Liakopoulos' guilty verdict sends a message to other elected officials.

"The attorney general will continue to aggressively be involved in the investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases. It is my hope that this case will cause elected officials, not only in this county but throughout the state, to make sure that they're aware of their conduct and that they abide by the public's trust," Hafen said.

Liakopoulos resigned his position as Nye County District 5 commissioner effective Dec. 31, 2008, after serving two years of his four-year term. That followed his indictment on bribery charges.

His conviction on asking or receiving a bribe by an executive or administrative officer is a Class C felony punishable by one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

When asked outside the courthouse about the possible penalties, Hafen said, "I don't want to speculate but I'd be shocked" if Liakopoulos served any prison time.

Public defender Tom Gibson asked 5th District Judge Robert Lane after the verdict to consolidate the bribery count with a gross misdemeanor conviction of offering a reward for an appointment. He said both counts have the same essential elements.

Lane did not issue an immediate response to Gibson's motion.

The third charge for which Liakopoulos was convicted was grafting by a public officer, a gross misdemeanor.

Denise Choyce, who was secretary-treasurer of Liakopoulos' Supporting Soldiers in Need until she left the organization out of differences with Liakopoulos, listened to the verdict.

"I'm so happy that justice was done. Have you ever heard the saying, 'Some days you're the windshield, some days you're the bug?' He's the bug today," Choyce said.

"I'm very happy the guilty verdict came down on him so it will show that people aren't going to be intimidated by him and they're not going to be forced into giving an answer he thinks should be given to him," she said.