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ST. LOUIS 鈥� Lobbyist and political consultant David Barklage was ordered Thursday to pay $151,843 in restitution as well as serve three years of probation and 120 hours of community service for a federal tax crime.

In his guilty plea in August to a felony charge of filing a false tax return, Barklage, 60, admitted depositing a total of $442,633 into his personal bank account, rather than the account for either of his businesses, and failing to declare it as income. He also admitted filing a tax return that he did not believe was accurate and failing to pay $151,843 in taxes.

Barklage could have received 12 to 18 months in prison under the recommended federal sentencing guidelines.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp opted for probation, citing Barklage鈥檚 supportive family, his work history and the fact that he brought a check to court to repay the taxes, an action upon which judges often look favorably.

Schelp also cited 鈥渕atters discussed鈥� during a roughly three-minute-long, non-public portion of the hearing at which any cooperation with other investigations is discussed as a reason for the sentence.

In court, Barklage apologized, his voice breaking. He said eight generations of his family had maintained an 鈥渋mpeccable鈥� reputation, until now. He also vowed to refocus his life on his family and the community.

Defense lawyer Joseph Passanise said the experience had been humbling and humiliating for Barklage. In addition to citing Barklage鈥檚 family, his lack of a criminal history, and a series of letters from supporters, Passanise said probation would allow Barklage to repay the friends and relatives who lent him the money to pay his taxes.

Passanise had also filed a 50-page 鈥渟entencing brochure鈥� containing Barklage鈥檚 background, 10 pages of family photos and 18 letters in support from current and former politicians, lobbyists, political consultants, business executives and friends.

St. 亚洲无码 County Councilman Ernie Trakas and Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker wrote letters on official letterhead praising Barklage, with Trakas arguing against prison time.

In 2016, a letter of support for a politically connected man involved in a federal marijuana conspiracy authored by then-St. 亚洲无码 County police Chief Jon Belmar on official letterhead prompted criticism from the police union. Then-St. 亚洲无码 County Executive Steve Stenger also wrote a letter in support, but not on county letterhead.

Others writing on behalf of Barklage included former state Rep. Scott Dieckhaus; Jeff Rainford, former chief of staff to longtime St. 亚洲无码 Mayor Francis Slay; lobbyist Andy Blunt, the son of U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt; businessman John Brunner, who unsuccessfully ran for Missouri governor and U.S. senator; Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon; John Hancock, spokesman for Gov. Mike Parson鈥檚 Uniting Missouri PAC; and John W. Maupin, chairman of the St. 亚洲无码 County Port Authority.

Many letter writers cited their own legal or public service backgrounds or dropped the names of prominent Missourians they know or have worked with. Many also traveled to court Thursday to support Barklage in person.

Schelp also mentioned a late-arriving letter from Steve Ehlmann, the St. Charles County executive. A spokesman said Ehlmann sent it as a private citizen on his own stationery.

A government sentencing memo is sealed from public view. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith declined to ask for a specific sentence Thursday, saying he would defer to Schelp.

In court documents, Passanise said the federal investigation was started by an embezzlement accusation that later proved baseless but uncovered the tax crime.

The embezzlement accusation is a reference to former Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who reported concerns about financial irregularities to federal investigators in 2015. A Post-Dispatch analysis at the time showed Barklage failed to report more than $64,000 in payments from the Kinder campaign.

From 2012-2014, he was paid about $209,000 from Kinder鈥檚 political campaign. He received $30,000 in lobbying fees that he didn鈥檛 report in 2013. In 2012, he was paid $122,580 from 鈥渁n independent media producer,鈥� his plea says.

Barklage was half owner of Barklage and Knodell and the sole owner of The Barklage Co. at the time.

Barklage started his political career with two terms on the Cape Girardeau City Council, then worked on political campaigns as a consultant and campaign manager, his sentencing memo says.

He owned Target Media Consultants from 1987 to 1998 and formed The Barklage Co. in 2009.

He has been a major player in Republican campaigns in Missouri and led campaign committees in the 1990s that helped engineer the Republican takeover of the Legislature for the first time in 50 years.

UPDATED at 1 p.m. with information from the court hearing.