LITTLE ROCK — A former Arkansas Senate president pro tempore has reported to federal prison to begin serving an 18-month sentence for spending more than $150,000 in campaign funds on personal items.
Former Sen. Paul Bookout is being held in an administrative security penitentiary in Thomson, Ill., according to the facility's website. A message left at the prison asking when Bookout reported was not immediately returned.
Bookout was sentenced in March to 18 months in prison and two years supervised release and ordered to repay the $150,000. He was given until Tuesday to report to prison.
Bookout pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge for spending campaign funds on clothing, liquor, a sound system and other personal items.
Bookout is a Democrat from Jonesboro.